Intraoperative complications of perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene: subretinal perfluorocarbon, retinal slippage and residual perfluorocarbon

Background: An earlier analysis of postoperative complications of the perfl uorocarbon liquid perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene (Vitreon) showed a low over all rate of posterior segment complications. A study was conducted to deter mine the incidence of specific intraoperative complications in a wide varie ty of vitreoretinal procedures performed by many different surgeons using V itreon. Methods: The records of consecutive patients enrolled in the Vitreon Collab orative Study were reviewed to determine the incidence of subretinal Vitreo n, retinal slippage and residual Vitreon. A total of 1867 vitreoretinal pro cedures performed between Nov. 16, 1989, and Dec. 14, 1994, at 35 participa ting centres were studied. Vitreon was used as a surgical tool at the surge on's discretion after informed consent was obtained. The incidence of intra operative complications was determined, and preoperative, intraoperative an d postoperative characteristics were tabulated. Results: Subretinal Vitreon was observed in 24 patients (1.3%), retinal sli ppage in 20 patients (1.1%) (15 [6.9%] of the 216 patients with giant retin al tears) and residual Vitreon in 68 patients (3.6%).