EXTERNAL ARGON-LASER CHOROIDOTOMY VERSUS NEEDLE DRAINAGE TECHNIQUE INPRIMARY SCLERAL BUCKLE PROCEDURES - A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY

Purpose: To compare the rates of intraoperative and postoperative comp lications of external argon laser choroidotomy and needle drainage tec hniques during scleral buckle procedures for primary retinal detachmen t. Methods: A group of 175 patients undergoing scleral buckling for pr imary retinal detachment was randomly assigned to undergo either exter nal argon laser choroidotomy or needle drainage. Complications associa ted with drainage of subretinal fluid were categorized as retinal brea k, retinal incarceration, or hemorrhage (dot, less-than-or-equal-to 1 disc diameter [DD], or > 1 DD), and recorded during surgery and 24 hou rs after surgery. Results: In the group that underwent laser choroidot omy, 12 (13%) of 92 patients had complications, including 4 dot hemorr hages, 3 hemorrhages 1 DD or smaller, 3 hemorrhages larger than 1 DD, 1 retinal incarceration, and 1 suprachoroidal hemorrhage. In the group that underwent needle drainage, 13 (16%) of 81 patients had complicat ions, including 3 dot hemorrhages, 4 hemorrhages 1 DD or smaller, 5 he morrhages larger than 1 DD, and 1 suprachoroidal hemorrhage. No signif icant difference was noted between the two groups in the incidence of complications (P = 0.657). Conclusion: External argon laser choroidoto my and needle choroidotomy are comparable, safe, and effective ways to drain subretinal fluid during scleral buckle surgery.