The forbidden touch: mechanical clearing of gas-induced crystalline lens feathering during vitrectomy surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lens feathering due to intraocular gas may cause significant challenges with intraoperative visualization during posterior segment surgery. Herein, we describe an intraoperative technique for improving posterior segment visualization impacted by lens feathering. METHODS: New technique to improve visualization in vitrectomy from gas-induced cataract. RESULTS: The light pipe is used to gently massage posterior subcapsular lens vacuoles to improve the surgical view intraoperatively. CONCLUSION: We report an effective and efficient technique to improve lens feathering during vitreoretinal surgery without need for cataract extraction.

Complex left profunda femoris vein to renal vein bypass for the management of progressive chronic iliofemoral occlusion.

Chronic occlusions of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and iliofemoral veins are long-term sequelae of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) that can lead to postthrombotic syndrome (PTS). Patients may present with a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms, ranging from mild discomfort and swelling to severe venous hypertension and ulcerations. We report a 68-year-old man who had a history of left lower extremity DVT after a laminectomy and who developed PTS with nonhealing ulcers. The patient underwent a cross-pubic femorofemoral venous bypass that failed to improve his clinical status. After unsuccessful endovascular attempts for recanalization of the iliofemoral segment, a profunda femoris to IVC bypass was performed. The symptoms recurred 2 years later. Venography revealed restenosis at the caval anastomosis that did not resolve by endovascular means. A surgical revision was performed, and given the quality of the IVC, a jump bypass was created to the left renal vein. The swelling improved and the ulcers healed completely. Twenty-eight months after the complex reconstructions, he remains ulcer-free with mild edema controlled with stockings. Venous reconstructions remain a viable option for patients with symptomatic and recalcitrant nonmalignant obstruction of the large veins.

Endovascular management of iliac vein rupture during percutaneous interventions for occlusive lesions.

Iatrogenic Iliac vein rupture is a rare and potentially lethal complication. We present herein two different clinical scenarios of iatrogenic iliac vein rupture that resulted from performing percutaneous endoluminal interventions to treat symptomatic veno-occlusive lesions. The first case was due to the presence of surgical clips from the patient's previous gynecologic surgery, which caused iliac vein compression and eventually led to acute deep vein thrombosis. The second case resulted from central venous outflow obstruction ipsilateral to a lower extremity arteriovenous dialysis access site. Both Iliac vein ruptures were the result of percutaneous attempts to correct the outflow lesion (delayed in the first case and acute in the second case). Hemorrhage was successfully controlled in both cases using a self-expandable Viabahn (W. L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) covered stent while maintaining vessel patency and resolving symptoms related to veno-occlusive disease.

Isolated cilioretinal artery occlusion secondary to perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody vasculitis.

INTRODUCTION: Antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitides encompass a diverse spectrum of autoimmune diseases characterized by necrotizing small vessel vasculitis. Ocular manifestations may be the presenting findings of antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitides. METHODS: Single, retrospective case study. RESULTS: We report the rare case of a 55-year-old woman with a cilioretinal artery occlusion as the presenting feature of perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated microscopic polyangiitis. CONCLUSIONS: Although rare, antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-related vasculitis should be considered in any retinal vascular occlusion, particularly in the setting of patients with new vague headaches and a paucity of vasculopathic risk factors.

MULTIMODAL IMAGING OF CHOROIDAL AND OPTIC DISK VESSELS NEAR OPTIC DISK PITS.

PURPOSE: To describe modern multimodal imaging of the choroidal and optic disk vessels in optic disk pits. METHODS: Case reports of four patients with optic disk pit who underwent multimodal imaging of the optic pit and surrounding structures. Patients included in this article were found to have optic disk pits and subsequently underwent multimodal imaging. RESULTS: Cilioretinal arteries were present in two of the four cases (50%). SPECTRALIS optical coherence tomography showed intraretinal and subretinal fluid in all cases. Small vessels in the choroid and in the disk around the pit were also present in all cases through optical coherence tomographic angiography. Confocal fluorescein angiographic imaging in the first case showed leakage from the vessels adjacent to the optic disk pit. CONCLUSION: Modern multimodal imaging shows that there are anomalous vessels in and around an optic pit. Whether these vessels affect the development of optic pit, maculopathy needs to be further evaluated.

Cytomegalovirus Retinitis Associated with Lenalidomide Use for Multiple Myeloma in an Immunocompetent Patient.

PURPOSE: The aim of this report is to present a case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in an immunocompetent patient using lenalidomide. METHODS: Case report with fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography imaging. RESULTS: A 55-year-old male with history of multiple myeloma treated with lenalidomide presented with blurriness and floaters in his right eye and was found to have vitreous biopsy-confirmed CMV retinitis. The patient was treated with pars plana vitrectomy, oral valganciclovir, and intravitreal foscarnet. More than one year later, the patient was doing well with visual acuity of 20/25 and no recurrence of retinitis. CONCLUSION: This represents the second report of CMV retinitis associated with lenalidomide therapy. It suggests that even immunocompetent patients can be affected by CMV retinitis in the context of lenalidomide treatment. It is critical that patients being treated with lenalidomide receive prompt evaluation if they develop ophthalmic symptoms.

A rare presentation of choroidal metastasis from primary esophageal adenocarcinoma successfully treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: In this case report, we present a case of choroidal metastasis from a primary esophageal adenocarcinoma that was treated successfully with intensity-modulated radiation therapy. OBSERVATIONS: A 65-year-old male with known stage IV esophageal adenocarcinoma presented with a central scotoma in his left eye and was ultimately found to have a large choroidal metastatic lesion with overlying subretinal fluid. IMRT was administered over the course of four weeks, resulting in restoration of the patient's vision, regression of the metastatic lesion, and resolution of the subretinal fluid. As of 16 months following completion of radiation, there remains no evidence of choroidal recurrence or radiation-associated ocular complications. CONCLUSIONS: and Importance: To our knowledge, this is the first published case report of a choroidal metastasis from esophageal cancer responding durably to IMRT. IMRT should therefore be considered a viable treatment option for this rare disease.

Surgical femorocaval bypass for recalcitrant iliofemoral venous occlusion to endovascular treatment.

Patients with chronic occlusion of iliac veins may present with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe disability, including limb swelling, venous claudication, and ulceration. Endovascular treatment has emerged as first line of interventional therapy. Surgical venous-venous bypasses for the management of these patients in the era of endovascular therapy are rarely performed. These procedures are reserved only for patients with severe symptoms and long occlusive lesions that have failed previous endovascular interventions. We present a clinical scenario involving the use of femorocaval bypass to treat an iliofemoral occlusion recalcitrant to stenting, manifesting with severe lower extremity swelling and venous claudication. The surgical bypass resulted in significant improvement in the patient's clinical status.