EFFICACY OF INTRAVITREAL HEMOCOAGULASE FOR CONTROL OF BLEEDING IN RABBIT EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL OF VITRECTOMY

Hemorrhage during vitrectomy for diabetic retinopathy or in the recent ly traumatized eye can complicate the surgical procedures and might ca use termination and failure of vitrectomy in some cases. The effect of the hemocoagulase, Botropase(R), on the hemostasis of intraocular ble eding was evaluated in a rabbit model by cutting central retinal vesse ls in the medullary ray. Addition of the hemocoagulase (1 NIH unit/100 ml) to BSS Plus significantly reduced bleeding time. Immediately afte r vitrectomy with the use of this hemocoagulase, the average of the ma ximum amplitudes of the b-wave in electroretinography was normal, alth ough the sensitivity of the electroretinogram was reduced by 0.1 log u nit in the experimental eyes which were infused with hemocoagulase sol ution. The sensitivity showed no significant difference after the seco nd postoperative day. The experimental eyes showed no abnormal finding s histologically. Infusate containing Botropase(R) appeared to be a us eful adjunct for the control of intraocular bleeding during vitreous s urgery.