Long-Term Re-Detachment Rates of Pneumatic Retinopexy versus Pars Plana Vitrectomy in Retinal Detachment: a PIVOT Post-Hoc Analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess long-term re-detachment rates of the Pneumatic Retinopexy versus Vitrectomy for the Management of Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Outcomes Randomized Trial (PIVOT). DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: PIVOT trial participants METHODS: This study was performed at St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Canada. PIVOT trial participants, with a minimum follow-up of two years, who had undergone either pneumatic retinopexy or ppv for rrd repair were assessed for long-term re-detachment by chart review or telephone interview. The latter was the only accepted method for those with less than two years of follow-up. Patients were only eligible if no re-intervention to reattach the retina was performed within the first year of the initial procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Long-term re-detachment rates for pneumatic retinopexy versus ppv following RRD repair. RESULTS: 61 ppv participants and 62 pneumatic retinopexy participants were analyzed. The long-term re-detachment rate was 0% and 1.61% (1/62) in the ppv and pneumatic retinopexy groups, respectively (p= 0.32). The mean follow-up duration in years was 5.43+/-3.60 versus 5.51+/-3.03 in the ppv and pnr groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference in long-term re-detachment rates for pneumatic retinopexy vs ppv. Both procedures are durable treatment options for rrd over an extended period, rarely requiring additional intervention for re-detachment.

POSTOPERATIVE PHOTORECEPTOR INTEGRITY AND ANATOMICAL OUTCOMES BASED ON PRESENTING MORPHOLOGIC STAGE OF RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT.

PURPOSE: To evaluate outer retinal recovery on postoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) based on presenting morphologic stage of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). METHODS: Retrospective cohort of consecutive primary fovea-involving RRDs, referred from January 2012 to September 2022. Baseline OCTs were assessed for morphologic stage of RRD. Postoperative OCT scans were graded at 3, 6, and 12 months for external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone and interdigitation zone discontinuity, epiretinal membrane formation and severity, and residual subfoveal fluid. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-one patients were included. Increasing baseline morphologic stage of RRD was significantly associated with external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone, and interdigitation zone discontinuity at all time points postoperatively ( P < 0.001) and was shown to be an independent predictor of foveal photoreceptor integrity after adjusting for height of detachment, time to surgery, and duration of fovea involvement ( P < 0.001). Earlier stages were associated with residual subfoveal fluid ( P < 0.001). There was no association between the stages of RRD and epiretinal membrane severity. However, late stages presented with earlier development of epiretinal membrane ( P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: Increasing morphologic stage of RRD is associated with delayed recovery of outer retinal bands in the first year and faster development of epiretinal membrane after RRD repair. The results of this study suggest that the stages may serve as a prognostic biomarker for postoperative photoreceptor recovery.

Pneumatic Retinopexy for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment in Elderly Patients.

PURPOSE: To assess clinical outcomes in elderly patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent pneumatic retinopexy (PnR) for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: Patients aged ≥ 75 years with primary RRD undergoing PnR. METHODS: This study evaluates clinical outcomes among eligible patients who presented from October 1, 2010, to December 31, 2022, with a minimum of 3 months' follow-up. There were no limitations with respect to the number, size, or location of retinal breaks. Exclusion criteria included significant proliferative vitreoretinopathy or previous retinal detachment repair in the index eye, inability to maintain the postoperative posturing requirements or inability to carry out adequate examination of the peripheral retina because of media opacity. Lens status did not impact the decision to offer PnR. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pneumatic retinopexy primary anatomic reattachment rate and postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 3 months. RESULTS: Eighty patients with a mean age of 80.6 ± 4.6 years were included in this study; 35% (28/80) were phakic and 34% (27/80) presented with a fovea-on RRD. The mean number of breaks in the detached retina was 1.52 ± 1.13, and the mean number of quadrants of detached retina was 2.35 ± 0.93. The primary anatomic reattachment rate at 3 months after PnR was 78.8% (63/80), whereas the remaining 21.2% (17/80) failed PnR and underwent an operating room procedure. There was a statistically significant improvement in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA from baseline to 3 months (1.29 ± 0.94 and 0.69 ± 0.67, respectively, P < 0.001). A subgroup analysis that only included patients aged > 80 years was also performed, with a total of 39 patients with a mean age of 84.4 ± 3.5 years. The primary anatomic reattachment rate with PnR in this subgroup was 74.4% (29/39), with a statistically significant improvement in BCVA from baseline to 3 months (1.4 ± 1.05 and 0.77 ± 0.70, respectively; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients treated with PnR for primary RRD had relatively comparable primary anatomic reattachment rates with other surgical techniques such as pars plana vitrectomy and scleral buckle. Pneumatic retinopexy is an effective, minimally invasive office-based procedure that may be desirable for some elderly patients. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.