A CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF SUPRACHOROIDAL HEMORRHAGE DURING PARS-PLANA VITRECTOMY

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors associated w ith suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH) during vitrectomy. PATIENTS AND ME THODS: Of 6971 pars plana vitrectomies performed between May 1988 and December 1994, SCH occurred intraoperatively in 12 (0.17%) cases. Fort y-two age- and sex-matched control subjects were selected by computer- generated random numbers. Preoperative and intraoperative variables we re subjected to univariate and conditional logistic regression analysi s. RESULTS: Statistically significant risk factors for SCH after univa riate analysis included myopia (P = .048), aphakia or pseudophakia (P = .024), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (P = .044), scleral bucklin g and/or encirclage at vitrectomy (P = .023), and longer duration of s urgery (P = .044). Multivariate analysis revealed independent risks as sociated with the absence of a lens and longer duration of the surgery . CONCLUSION: A knowledge of the risk factors involved with SCH helps the physician to identify patients who are at a greater risk for this complication.