Surgical removal of submacular perfluorocarbon liquid with a 38-gauge flexible cannula combined with internal limiting membrane peeling and intravitreal air tamponade: a case series

• Main Authors: Zhongjing Lin, Yanwei Chen, Sha Gao, Yisheng Zhong, Xi Shen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2018-06-01
• Series: BMC Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Perfluorocarbon liquid; Submacular; Internal limiting membrane peeling
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12886-018-0798-y

Abstract Background To report a case series in which a modified technique was used to remove retained submacular perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) secondary to vitreoretinal surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Case presentation Four patients who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were further treated with surgical intervention because of retained submacular PFCL. With a three-port pars plana approach, after the internal limiting membrane peeling with indocyanine green staining, a 38-gauge flexible cannula was used to aspirate the submacular perfluorocarbon bubble, followed by fluid-air exchange and air injection into vitreous cavity. Submacular perfluorocarbon liquid was removed successfully and visual acuity had an improvement in all cases. Conclusion The surgical removal of retained submacular PFCL using a 38-gauge flexible cannula combined with internal limiting membrane peeling and intravitreal air tamponade may provide anatomical and visual satisfactory outcomes.