PNEUMATIC RETINOPEXY - A STUDY OF 7 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Background: The goal of this study is the evaluation of effectivity an d the complications of pneumatic retinopexy in the treatment of rhegma togenous retinal detachment as a long-term follow-up. Material and met hods: This retrospective long-term study covers 89 eyes with rhegmatog enous retinal detachment treated by pneumatic retinopexy between Janua ry 1985 and December 1991. With a postoperative follow-up averaging 4. 8 years, it constitutes the longest such period published to-date in l iterature. Results: The first intervention induced anatomical healing in 73% of all cases. However, 5.5% relapsed with retinal detachment af ter one month. Following a second intervention (excepting 2 cases) per formed with conventional retinal detachment surgery consisting of exop lants + kryopexy + subretinal drainage, successrate was stepped up 97% . A total of 5 eyes required maximum surgery, i.e. vitrectomy + silico ne oil tamponade. In 3% this procedure presented the third interventio n. Finally anatomical healing was attained in 100% of the eyes. Howeve r, after one month 18% developed new retinal tears and after a follow- up period of 5.5 years this figure had risen to 27.7%. Conclusion: Jud ged on the basis of the above results, pneumatic retinopexy should onl y be recommended for the very simplest cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (a single tear in the upper fundus half between 10 and 2 o 'clock and no pathological changes in the lower fundus half). Also, ch eck-ups at short intervals are required following pneumatic retinopexy . In our opinion standard buckling surgery with additional gas tampona de is preferable.