Value of Intravitreal Gas Injection With Ahmed Valve Implantation in the Prevention of Suprachoroidal Hemorrhage in Aphakic, Aniridic, and Vitrectomized Glaucomatous Eyes: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the value of intravitreal injection of nonexpansile C3F8 12% in the prevention of suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH) after Ahmed valve implantation for the treatment of secondary glaucoma in vitrectomized, aphakic, and aniridic eyes following blunt trauma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a case series of 5 patients who presented with traumatic secondary glaucoma in vitrectomized, aphakic, and aniridic eyes. Vitrectomy was performed in all eyes after trauma for the treatment of the vitreous hemorrhage. Ahmed valve implantation with complete filling of the vitreous cavity with nonexpansile C3F8 was carried out 2±0.2 months after vitrectomy. The outcome measures were evaluating the value of intraoperative filling of the vitreous cavity with gas in preventing SCH after Ahmed valve implantation and the ability of Ahmed valve implantation to control the intraocular pressure (IOP) in vitrectomized, aphakic, and aniridic eyes. All patients were examined up to 6 months. RESULTS: Inspite of the multiple risk factors present in our patients in the form of aphakia, vitrectomized eyes, and aniridia, no patient developed postoperative hypotony or SCH during the postoperative period. The gas was absorbed over 2 months and the IOP was maintained during the early postoperative period. Mean postoperative IOP was 15.2±1.09, 12.2±1.09, 18.4±7.12, 15.2±2.28, and 14.8±1. 09 mm Hg at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively. The final postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was 0.66±0.13. CONCLUSIONS: Complete filling of the vitreous cavity with nonexpansile gas can prevent postoperative SCH after Ahmed valve implantation in the treatment of secondary glaucoma in vitrectomized, aphakic, and aniridic eyes.

Choroidal effusion and suprachoroidal hemorrhage during phacoemulsification: intraoperative management to prevent expulsive hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: To describe the intraoperative management of choroidal effusion (CE) or suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH) during cataract surgery with the phacoemulsification technique. METHODS: The study is a retrospective interventional study through which we describe the intraoperative management adopted in 6 cases of CE or SCH during cataract surgery. The study involved 6,400 eyes (phacoemulsification) in 6 years observational time (incidence rate 0.094%). The surgical time at which these complications happened differed: nucleolus phacoemulsification in 2 eyes, cortex removal by bimanual irrigation-aspiration in 3 eyes, and intraocular lens implant for 1 eye. Once the complication was recognized, each patient was quickly moved to an extreme reverse Trendelenburg position and pharmacologically treated to manage high blood pressure, pain, and anxiety (150 mL of an 18% mannitol solution delivered in rapid infusion intravenously; 1-3 mg intravenous midazolam; 5 nifedipine sublingual drops). RESULTS: In all the cases reported, the surgery was completed after resolution of the acute choroidal exudation or SCH. In the follow-up evaluation, the intraocular pressure was normal at each examination. The visual acuity of the patients was between 6/7.5 and 5/6 Snellen after 4 weeks. We observed a statistically significant reduction in endothelial cells in the 2 eyes in which the CE or SCH happened during the phacoemulsification compared with the other cases; this finding likely results from mechanical damage (p = 0.04 [95% confidence interval]). CONCLUSIONS: Choroidal effusion or SCH can be intraoperatively managed to avoid expulsive hemorrhage and maintain the possibility of completing the surgery.

Prevention and management of delayed suprachoroidal hemorrhage after filtration surgery.

We report two new cases of massive delayed nonexpulsive suprachoroidal hemorrhage (DNSH) following a filtering operation in the aphakic eyes of elderly patients with glaucoma. A timely surgical drainage resulted in full recovery of preoperative visual acuity in both of our patients. As we combine our cases with a series of 18 similar cases of others in the literature, the following conclusions emerge. Limited DNSH does not require surgical intervention for a favorable visual outcome. Massive DNSH, however, requires timely and appropriate surgical intervention to achieve a favorable visual outcome and to avoid persistent hypotony. The most effective surgical intervention is drainage of the suprachoroidal hemorrhage and re-formation of the anterior chamber, but without concomitant vitrectomy. In both limited and massive DNSH, the final visual outcome is not determined by the worst vision at the time of DNSH. Some of the known and suspected risk factors of DNSH following filtering surgery are old age, aphakia, postoperative hypotony, a history of vitreous manipulation or complication, general anesthesia, increased venous pressure, use of fluorouracil, and high myopia. In view of these risk factors, we recommend several preventive measures for decreasing the incidence of DNSH following filtering surgery.

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage.

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage is a feared complication of all types of intraocular surgery. Although rare, it is typically associated with severe visual disability, and this has prompted efforts to better understand the pathogenesis of this condition, to identify the patients at risk for this event, and to improve treatment of patients who develop this condition either intraoperatively or postoperatively. Controversy still exists regarding the best course of treatment for these patients. Although the introduction of perfluorocarbon liquids as a surgical adjunct during vitrectomy surgery may assist in the removal of suprachoroidal hemorrhage, the visual outcomes still remain disappointing.

Massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage during pars plana vitrectomy associated with Valsalva maneuver.

PURPOSE: To report the intraoperative occurrence of massive intraocular suprachoroidal hemorrhage associated with Valsalva maneuver. METHODS: Retrospective, multicenter study of patients who developed massive choroidal hemorrhage associated with Valsalva maneuver during vitrectomy. RESULTS: Massive intraoperative suprachoroidal hemorrhage in seven patients (seven eyes) involved three men and four women with a median age of 52 years (range, 26 to 82 years). General anesthesia was used in six of seven cases. Coughing or "bucking" on the endotracheal tube during general anesthesia or severe coughing during the one vitrectomy performed under local anesthesia was associated with massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage. In five of seven eyes, this occurred near the end of surgery, after air-fluid exchange but before sclerotomy closure. Scleral plugs were immediately placed, and sclerotomy closure was performed exigently. Immediate posterior sclerotomy was performed on five of seven eyes; an additional patient underwent posterior sclerotomy postoperatively. After median follow-up of 18 months (range, 3 to 36 months), final visual acuity was no light perception in four eyes, light perception in one eye, 20/250 in one eye, and 20/20 in one eye. Four eyes became phthisical. CONCLUSIONS: Valsalva maneuver during pars plana vitrectomy may result in massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage with disastrous visual consequences. Precautionary measures to prevent coughing or "bucking" on the endotracheal tube during general anesthesia, or a prolonged episode of coughing during local anesthesia, may prevent this potentially devastating complication.

Risk of acute suprachoroidal hemorrhage with phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To establish whether small incision cataract surgery with phacoemulsification decreases the risk of acute suprachoroidal hemorrhage (ASCH) compared with traditional nucleus expression by extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). SETTING: St. Erik Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. METHODS: A retrospective study was done on the incidence of ASCH in cataract surgery between July 1990 and July 1996. During this period, 37,565 cataract extractions (phacoemulsification and ECCE) were performed at St. Erik Eye Hospital, combined procedures excluded. The criteria for diagnosis were the suspicion of ASCH during surgery and a verified diagnosis via an expulsive hemorrhage into the wound (4 cases), postoperative ultrasonic examination (20 cases), or a choroidal mass on performing ophthalmoscopy together with a postoperative history alluding to the diagnosis (2 cases). RESULTS: Twenty-six eyes were identified with ASCH, including 7 during phacoemulsification and 19 during ECCE. The incidence of ASCH was 0.03% in the 23,213 phacoemulsification cases and 0.13% in the 14,352 ECCE cases. The difference was statistically significant (P = .0003; chi-square test). CONCLUSION: Small incision surgery with phacoemulsification decreased the risk of ASCH in cataract surgery compared with the traditional nucleus expression technique.

Expulsive choroidal haemorrhage.

Expulsive choroidal haemorrhage is a dramatic and serious complication of cataract surgery that occurred in five patients out of ten thousand consecutive cataract surgeries performed by the author during the year 1989 and 1990. Report about this dreaded complication after cataract surgery are scanty and as far as I can remember I have not seen any report in Indian ophthalmic literature recently. Since cataract surgery forms the major part of intra ocular surgeries performed in our country, I thought it would be appropriate to report about this rare complication which may occur to all of us. Out of five cases 3 were males and 2 were females in the age group ranging between 45-72 years. Two eyes regained vision up to 6/12 after intra operative expulsive haemorrhage. All the eyes were salvaged by doing anterior sclerotomy. Diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma and myopia are the commonest predisposing factors.

Novel method to avoid the open-sky condition in penetrating keratoplasty: covered cornea technique.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to present a novel technique to avoid the open-sky condition in pediatric and adult penetrating keratoplasty (PK). METHODS: Seventy-two eyes of 65 infants and children and 44 eyes of 44 adult patients were operated on using this technique. After trephining the recipient cornea up to a depth of 50% to 70%, the anterior chamber was entered at 1 point. Then, only a 2 clock hour segment of the recipient button was incised, and this segment was sutured to the recipient rim with a single tight suture. The procedure was repeated until the entire recipient button was excised and resutured. The donor corneal button was sutured to the recipient corneal rim. The sutures between the recipient button and the rim were then cut off, and the recipient button was drawn out. RESULTS: None of the patients operated on with this technique developed complications related to the open-sky condition. Visual acuities, graft failure rates, and endothelial cell loss were comparable with the findings of studies performed for conventional PK. CONCLUSIONS: The technique described avoids the open-sky condition during the entire PK procedure. Endothelial cell loss rates are acceptable.

Risk factors for delayed suprachoroidal haemorrhage following glaucoma surgery.

AIM: To determine the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of delayed suprachoroidal haemorrhage (DSCH) after glaucoma surgery. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed at a tertiary referral eye hospital on patients who presented with DSCH following glaucoma surgery. Cases were compared with a matched-control population that underwent equivalent procedures but did not develop DSCH. The main outcome parameters were incidence of DSCH, risk factors associated with its occurrence, visual outcome and prognostic factors. RESULTS: Of the 2752 glaucoma surgeries performed during the 10-year recruitment period, 29 cases of DSCH (1%) were identified. An increased incidence of DSCH was observed after glaucoma drainage device implantation compared with trabeculectomy-associated DSCH (p<0.0001; odds ratio 3.4; 95% CI 1.9 to 5.4). Risk factors for DSCH included low postoperative intraocular pressure (< or =3 mm Hg; p<0.001), aphakia (p<0.001), prior intraocular surgery (p<0.002), hypertension (p<0.001), anticoagulation (p = 0.002), ischaemic heart disease (p = 0.001) and respiratory disease (p = 0.008). The visual outcome of patients with haemorrhage was poor (logMAR 1.34 (SD 0.41)) and was significantly worse when compared with the control group (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In this study cohort, DSCH occurred more frequently after glaucoma drainage device implantation compared with trabeculectomy. Caution should be exercised when operating on patients with known ocular and systemic risk factors.

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage during pars plana vitrectomy.

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage is an uncommon but serious complication of pars plana vitrectomy that can be associated with a guarded visual prognosis. Risk factors for development of suprachoroidal hemorrhage during pars plana vitrectomy include high myopia, history of previous retinal detachment surgery, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, use of cryotherapy, scleral buckling at the time of pars plana vitrectomy, external drainage of the subretinal fluid, intraoperative systemic hypertension, and bucking during general anesthesia. In eyes with suprachoroidal hemorrhage during pars plana vitrectomy, the final visual and anatomic outcomes may be compromised by persistent retinal detachment, secondary glaucoma, and ocular hypotony. In most cases, intraoperative drainage of suprachoroidal hemorrhage is not associated with a better outcome. The prognosis is more favorable if the suprachoroidal hemorrhage is localized and does not extend in to the posterior pole.

Clinical experience with the Molteno dual-chamber single-plate implant.

A Molteno dual-chamber single-plate implant was placed in 40 consecutive patients, who were followed for a minimum of 6 months. This implant is identical to the single-plate Molteno implant, except for the addition of a pressure ridge to the upper surface of the episcleral plate, which allows the episcleral tissues to function as a temporary, pressure-sensitive valve, limiting the escape of aqueous in the early postoperative period. Confirming earlier studies, we found that use of the modified implant reduced immediate postoperative hypotony, eliminated choroidal hemorrhage, and, by obviating ligature of the silicone tube, permitted immediate reduction of elevated intraocular pressure.

Suprachoroidal hemorrhage in penetrating keratoplasty.

Nine cases of intraoperative expulsive suprachoroidal hemorrhage occurred in a series of 2011 consecutive penetrating keratoplasties (an incidence of 0.45%). In four cases, the complication was directly related to the anesthesia technique. The incidence of hemorrhage was 1.0% in the eyes with preoperative anterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs), an incidence significantly higher than for any other associated condition (P < .02). Four of the nine patients recovered a postoperative visual acuity of 20/70 or better. We discuss reasons for the relatively high incidence of hemorrhage during penetrating keratoplasty; its occurrence in relation to the type of anesthesia used, prior intraocular surgery, types of surgery performed together with the penetrating keratoplasty, and the presence of an anterior chamber IOL; and the risks introduced by hemorrhage in a fellow eye and by a previous hemorrhage in the same eye.

Intraoperative massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage during pars plana vitrectomy.

Seven eyes (7 patients) developed massive suprachoroidal hemorrhage (MSCH) during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for complicated retinal detachments. The MSCH developed late in the procedure following PPV, air fluid exchange, endolaser, cryopexy, and scleral buckling in five of seven eyes. In two eyes, mild hemorrhagic choroidal detachments noted intraoperatively progressed to MSCH within 72 hours postoperatively. Diagnosis of MSCH was confirmed by echography and CT scan. Multiple scleral buckling surgeries, high myopia, aphakia, and intraocular inflammation were the main risk factors. Placement of a broad posterior scleral buckle with intraoperative hypotony and cryopexy were important precipitating factors. Visual results were poor, with six of seven eyes showing no light perception. The mean follow-up time was 12.8 months. Once acute MSCH is recognized intraoperatively, surgical decompression at that time should be avoided as MSCH itself may tamponade the choroidal bleed. Details of prevention and management are discussed.