[Intraoperatory rupture of the vein in an arteriovenous crossing sheathotomy]. / Rotura intraoperatoria de vena en disección de cruce arteriovenoso.

CASE REPORT: We present a 43 year-old man with hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia who suffered an inferior temporal branch retinal vein occlusion in his right eye (visual acuity: counting fingers). An arteriovenous adventitial sheathotomy was made but the vein was perforated during surgery. The eye fundus and his final visual acuity improved (20/40) in spite of the complication. DISCUSSION: We comment the published experiences with this surgery and its complications.

[Vitrectomy for asteroid hyalosis]. / Vitrectomía en hialosis asteroidea.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of pars plana vitrectomy for asteroid hyalosis and synchisys scintillans with decrease of visual acuity. METHODS: Retrospective study of 15 patients on whom pars plana vitrectomy was performed. We studied the visual acuity before the surgery, the best and the final vision. Risk vascular factors, intraocular pressure, complications during the surgery or in the follow up were determined. RESULTS: We operated on 17 eyes of 15 patients (10 male, 5 female). In 2 cases we added peeling of macular pucker and in two cases a cataract surgery. Average age was 73.8 (standard deviation 8.6); risk vascular factors were found in 66.6%. There weren't any complications during the surgery. Later, 4 cataracts, 3 macular pucker and 1 macular hole (stage IV) developed. The average vision before the surgery was 20/60, the best 20/40 and the final vision 20/50. Average follow up time was 22.8 (s.d. 17.3) months. CONCLUSIONS: Asteroid hialosis was more frequent in elderly males (2/3) and in patients with risk vascular factors (66.6%). Cataract surgery was necessary in 50% of eyes during or after the pars plana vitrectomy. Seventeen percent of eyes presented macular pucker in the follow up. Recovery of vision was less than expected.

[Risk factors in retinopathy of prematurity]. / Factores de riesgo en la retinopatía del prematuro.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the potential risk factors in acute retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of preterm infants with birth weights less than 1,501 g, or more if mechanical ventilation and oxygen administration were needed, was carried out. Indirect ophthalmoscopy (mydriasis) with indentation was done every 15 days from the fourth week. Fifteen factors were analyzed. Statistically significant differences between the groups with and without ROP were sought with Fisher's exact probability test, two-sample t-test, and the chi-square contingency-table. A logistic regression was done. RESULTS: Thirty-six of the 137 infants examined (26.2%) with birth weight < or = 1,500 g had acute ROP. Only 7.1% of the infants with birth weights > or = 1,501 g had retinopathy. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the following variables: birth weight, gestational age, blood transfusion, mechanical ventilation, FiO2 (fraction inspired oxygen) maximum, time of FiO2 > or = 0.60 (hours) and time of FiO2 > or = 0.21 (days). However, the birth-weight was the only independent risk factor related to ROP. CONCLUSIONS: Retinopathy of the premature has a multifactorial etiology. The low gestational age and the oxygen had influence on ROP; however, low birth weight was the independent risk factor.