Inyección de gas intravítreo combinada con fotocoagulación con láser de argón para el tratamento de la maculopatía de la foseta del disco óptico sin vitrectomía / Intravitreal gas injection combined with argon laser photocoagulation for treatment of optic disc pit maculopathy without vitrectomy

RESUMEN Presentamos el caso de un paciente con foseta del disco óptico, quien presentó una disminución de la agudeza visual secundaria a desprendimiento seroso de retina. Se decidió realizar una inyección intravítrea de 0.3ml de gas C3F8 (100%), seguida de fotocoagulación con láser de argón en el borde temporal de la foseta, logrando reaplicación total de la retina, con reabsorción de todo el líquido subretiniano visible en la tomografía de coherencia optica (OCT) luego de 400 días. Además hubo una mejoría significativa en la agudeza visual.

ABSTRACT We present the case of a patient with an optic disk pit, presenting with great loss of visual acuity secondary to serous retinal detachment. The management chosen was an intravitreal injection of 0.3 mL of C3F8 (100%), followed by argon laser photocoagulation on the temporal edge of the pit, ), achieving total retinal reattachment , and reabsorption of all subretinal fluid visible at optical coherence tomography after 400 days, in addition to great improvement in visual acuity.

Management of Acute Submacular Hemorrhage with Intravitreal Injection of Tenecteplase, Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Gas

PURPOSE: To evaluate the visual and anatomical outcomes for neovascular age-related macular degeneration with submacular hemorrhage after intravitreal injections of tenecteplase (TNK), anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and expansile gas. METHODS: This study was a retrospective clinical case series following 25 eyes of 25 patients. All patients received a triple injection using 0.05 mL TNK (50 µg), 0.05 mL anti-VEGF and 0.3 mL of perfluoropropane gas. Retreatment with anti-VEGF was performed as needed. Preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity and central retinal thickness were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution of best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly from 1.09 ± 0.77 at baseline to 0.52 ± 0.60 at 12 months (p < 0.001). The mean central retinal thickness also improved significantly from 545 ± 156 at baseline to 266 ± 107 at 12 months (p < 0.001). A visual improvement of 0.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution unit or more was achieved in 15 eyes (60%). During the 12 postoperative months, an average of 4.04 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections was applied. CONCLUSIONS: A triple injection of TNK, anti-VEGF, and a gas appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of submacular hemorrhage secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Surgical Removal of Retained Subfoveal Perfluorocarbon Liquid through a Therapeutic Macular Hole with Intravitreal PFCL Injection and Gas Tamponade

We report two cases of surgical removal of a retained subfoveal perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) bubble through a therapeutic macular hole combined with intravitreal PFCL injection and gas tamponade. Two patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy with PFCL injection for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. In both cases, a retained subfoveal PFCL bubble was noticed postoperatively by funduscopy and optical coherence tomography. Both patients underwent surgical removal of the subfoveal PFCL through a therapeutic macular hole and gas tamponade. The therapeutic macular holes were completely closed by gas tamponade and the procedure yielded a good visual outcome (best-corrected visual acuity of 20 / 40 in both cases). In one case, additional intravitreal PFCL injection onto the macula reduced the size of the therapeutic macular hole and preserved the retinal structures in the macula. Surgical removal of a retained subfoveal PFCL bubble through a therapeutic macular hole combined with intravitreal PFCL injection and gas tamponade provides an effective treatment option.

Descemet's membrane detachment managed with perfluro-n-octane liquid.

We report the case of a 68-year-old male who developed Descemet's membrane detachment after temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification which did not settle with air or viscoelastic injection. The Descemet's membrane was successfully reattached with restoration of 20/50 vision with the help of perfluro-n-octane liquid. To our knowledge, this is the first such case to be reported.

Injeção intravítrea de bevacizumab e gás C3F8 para tratamento da hemorragia submacular secundária a degeneração macular relacionada à idade: relato de casos / Intravitreous injection of bevacizumab and C3F8 gas for the treatment of submacular hemorrhage due to age-related macular degeneration: case reports

O objetivo desta série de casos foi demonstrar se a aplicação de bevacizumab e gás perfluoropropano (C3F8) intravítreos beneficiariam o deslocamento da hemorragia sub-retiniana dos pacientes com degeneração macular relacionada à idade. Foi realizada uma série retrospectiva de 5 olhos que tinham recebido injeção intravítrea simultânea de bevacizumab e C3F8. Os resultados foram medidos pelo grau de deslocamento de sangue sob a fóvea, pela acuidade visual final e pelas complicações intraoperatórias. Na apresentação inicial, a idade média dos pacientes foi de 72,6 ± 8,9 anos e a duração média dos sintomas foi de 13 ± 9,7 dias. Dos 5 pacientes do estudo, 3 (60 por cento) eram homens e 2 (40 por cento) mulheres. O sucesso do deslocamento da hemorragia submacular foi alcançado em 4 pacientes. A média de acuidade visual pré-operatória foi de 1,12 ± 0,34 logMAR e pós-operatório foi de 0,92 ± 0,4 logMAR. Não foram observados nenhum caso de descolamento da retina, endoftalmite, hemorragia vítrea, uveíte, catarata e hipertensão ocular. A injeção intravítrea bevacizumab e C3F8, juntamente com a posição pronada pode ser uma valiosa opção terapêutica nos olhos com degeneração macular relacionada à idade neovascular e hemorragia sub-retiniana a fim de deslocar o sangue para fora da área foveal.

The purpose of this case series is to describe if the intravitreal use of bevacizumab and perfluoropropane gas (C3F8) would be beneficial to the displacement of subretinal hemorrhage in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A retrospective study of 5 eyes that received concurrent intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and C3F8 was performed. The results were graded according to blood displacement under the fovea, best final visual acuity and intraoperative complications. At the initial presentation, mean age of patients was 72.6 ± 8.9 years-old and duration of symptoms was 13 ± 9.7 days. From the 5 patients, 3 (60 percent) were male and 2 (40 percent) female. The success of submacular hemorrhage full displacement was achieved in 4 patients. The mean preoperative visual acuity (VA) was 1.12 ± 0.34 logMAR and the mean postoperative VA was 0.92 ± 0.4 logMAR. No cases of retinal detachment, endophthalmitis, vitreous hemorrhage, uveitis, cataracts and increased intraocular pressure were noted during the follow-up period. Intravitreal bevacizumab and C3F8 injection, associated to prone position can be a valuable therapeutic option for eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and subretinal hemorrhage to the blood displacement out of the foveal area.

The Efficacy of Fluid-Gas Exchange for the Treatment of Postvitrectomy Retinal Detachment

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of fluid-gas exchange for the treatment of postvitrectomy retinal detachment. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 33 consecutive patients (35 eyes) who underwent fluid-gas exchange treatment for postvitrectomy retinal detachment using the two-needle pars plana approach technique. RESULTS: The retinal reattachment rate was 80.0% after complete intravitreal gas disappearance following the fluid-gas exchange; the overall success rate was 65.7%. Visual acuity was improved or stable in 80.0% of cases; a two-line or greater vision improvement or a best-corrected visual acuity of 0.4 or better occurred in 62.9% of cases. The success rates for superior retinal detachments and posterior pole retinal detachments were 76.5% and 85.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fluid-gas exchange represents a simple and cost-effective alternative outpatient procedure for retinal reattachment without reoperation for the treatment of superior and posterior pole retinal detachments.

Pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil or gas endotamponade in HIV-related rhegmatogenous retinal detachments in Thai patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and results of pars plana vitrectomy with endotamponade for retinal detachments caused by necrotizing retinitis in HIV patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The data of patients with HIV-related retinal detachment who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil or gas endotamponade between January 2003 and June 2005 were retrospectively reviewed The outcome measures were demographic data, anatomical, and visual results. RESULTS: Of all 24 eyes from 20 patients, 19 eyes underwent pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade and 5 eyes with long-acting gas tamponade. Mean follow up time was 13 months (range 2-33 months). The overall anatomical success was 83% (84% and 80% with silicone oil and gas tamponade, respectively). Final best corrected visual acuity was equal or better than 5/200 in 12 eyes (50%). Forty-six percent had stabled or improved vision at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil or gas tamponade gives the high anatomical success rate in the repair of retinal detachments caused by necrotizing retinitis in HIV patients. There were the same reattachment rate and visual results between the two tamponade groups. However, the use of gas tamponade may be effective in patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Retinopexia pneumática e fotocooagulacão a laser para tratamento de descolamento secundário à fosseta de disco óptico: relato de caso / Pneumatic retinopexy and laser photocoagulation for treatment of optic disc pit detachment: case report

Os autores relatam o caso de um paciente com fosseta congênita de disco óptico associado a descolamento seroso macular, tratado com sucesso por meio de fotocoagulacão com laser de argônio na borda temporal da fosseta, seguido de injecão intravítrea de 0,3 ml de C3F8 (100 por cento). O paciente foi seguido por 12 meses. A resolucão do descolamento foi acompanhada de melhora da acuidade visual, bem como o retorno da fóvea a sua configuracão normal, comprovada através da tomografia de coerência óptica.

Estado actual de la ecocardiografía de contraste en la perfusión miocárdica / Contrast echocardiography in myocardial perfusion today

Avances en la ingeniería ultrasónica han llevado a la creación de micropartículas "inteligentes" con capacidad de atravesar en cantidad suficiente la barrera pulmonar transcapilar para permitir la obtención de imágenes de corazón izquierdo, lo que ha hecho posible la evaluación de la perfusión miocárdica. Si bien la Food and Drug Administration de los Estados Unidos ha aprobado varios agentes de contraste para empleo en opacificación ventricular y visualización de bordes endocárdicos en sujetos que tienen estudios subóptimos, no ha aprobado hasta el momento ningún agente de contraste para uso en perfusión miocárdica. En la actualidad existen dos estudios multicéntricos a gran escala que fueron diseñados exclusivamente para perfusión miocárdica en comparación con medicina nuclear y coronariografía. Nuestro laboratorio ha tenido la oportunidad de participar activamente en ambos estudios. Esta revisión incluye el diseño, criterios de interpretación y resultados preliminares de CARDIOsphere. Además, presentamos criterios de interpretación del estudio con la burbuja AI-700 que se encuentra actualmente en fase III de investigación clínica. La ecocardiografía de contraste para perfusión miocárdica enfrenta varios retos que deberá resolver antes de que se establezca como una alternativa eficiente. Una limitante común es la aplicabilidad de este método en sujetos con mala ventana acústica, la creación de artefactos intrínsecos al sistema como son la atenuación distal y lateral, la inevitable curva de aprendizaje, y el establecimiento de criterios en la cuantificación de los defectos.

Advances in ultrasonic engineering have made possible the development of "intelligent" micro-particles with the capacity of passing through the pulmonary circulation in sufficient amount to acquire images of the left heart, making possible the evaluation of myocardial perfusión. Although the Food and Drug Administration of the United States has approved several contrast agents for use in ventricular opacification and visualization of endocardial borders in subjects that have sub-optimal studies, at this time, it has not approved any agent of contrast for use in myocardial perfusión. Currently, there are two multicenter studies on a great scale that were exclusively designed for myocardial perfusión in comparison with nuclear medicine and angiography. Our laboratory has had the opportunity to actively participate in both trials. This revision includes the design, interpretation criteria, and preliminary results of CARDIOsphere. As well, we are presenting the interpretation criteria of the AI-700 bubble, which is currently in phase III of clinical investigation. Myocardial perfusión assessment with contrast echocardiography faces several challenges that need to be addressed before it becomes established as an efficient alternative. A common limitation is the viability of this method in subjects with bad acoustic window, the creation of intrinsic artifacts to the system, as distal and lateral attenuation; the unavoidable learning curve, and the settlement of defect quantification criteria. (Arch Cardiol Mex 2005; 75: 197-209).

Intravitreal gas for submacular haemorrhage.

Submacular haemorrhage is an important cause for sudden visual loss needing immediate intervention. We report a case of submacular haemorrhage causing profound visual loss, which resolved after intravitreal injection of perfluoropropane (C3F8) gas followed by strict prone positioning.

Does internal limiting membrane peeling in macular hole surgery improve reading vision?

PURPOSE: To document the effect of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling in macular hole closure and reading vision. METHOD: Fifty-four patients with idiopathic and traumatic macular hole underwent standard vitreous surgery and received either ILM peeling (n=25) or no ILM peeling (n=29). The hole closure, and Snellen acuity (distant and near) were recorded 12 weeks after surgery and statistically analysed. RESULTS: The macular hole closure rate was 96% (24 of 25) and 72.4% (21 of 29) with and without ILM peeling respectively (P = 0.028). Distant vision improvement of two or more lines was recorded in 64% (16 of 25) and 51.7% (15 of 29) eyes (P = 0.417) with and without ILM peeling respectively. Near vision improvement of two or more lines was seen in 68% (17 of 25) and 41.2% (12 of 29) eyes (P = 0.048) with and without ILM peeling respectively. CONCLUSION: ILM peeling in macular hole surgery improves the macular hole closure rate and reading vision.

Ventilação líquida: revisão da literatura / Liquid ventilation: literature review

Atualmente, novas alternativas de ventilação têm sido estudadas em quadros de insuficiência respiratória, com o objetivo de melhorar a oxigenação e minimizar a agressão ao parênquima pulmonar. A utilização de perfluorocarbonos líquidos administrados diretamente na via aérea vem sendo ostensivamente estudada em modelos de lesão pulmonar e em alguns ensaios clínicos, demonstrando bons resultados com relação à troca gasosa, mecânica ventilatória e propriedades antiinflamatórias. Os PFCs são substâncias que possuem baixa tensão superficial, alta densidade, são insolúveis em água, além de permitirem alta difusão de oxigênio e gás carbônico. Esses compostos atuam recrutando alvéolos colapsados, melhorando a oxigenação, protegendo a arquitetura pulmonar e atuando como carreadores de impurezas, limpando a superfície alveolar de resíduos da degradação celular. Neste artigo de revisão são apresentadas as diferentes modalidades ventilatórias com perfluorocarbonos e fornecidas informações sobre a utilização e o estado atual da ventilação líquida

Finding the retinal break in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

The development of subretinal fluid is governed by a limited number of anatomical factors and gravity. As a result, rhegmatogenous retinal detachments form in a predictable manner around the retinal break of their origin. The shape of the detachments points to the position of the break. The purpose of this review is to describe the characterstic contours of subretinal fluid in rhegmatogenous retinal detachments, and to highlight some rules and methodology which can help in the detection of the retinal break in phakic, psuedophakic and recurrent retinal detachments.

Fluid vitreous substitutes in vitreo retinal surgery.

Advances in the surgical instrumentation and vitreoretinal techniques have allowed intraoperative reapproximation of retina to a more normal position. The use of intravitreally injected liquid materials (viscoelastic liquids, liquid perfluorocarbons and silicone oil), as adjunctive agents to vitreo-retinal surgery play an important role in facilitating retinal reattachment. These materials are used as intraoperative instruments to re-establish intraocular volume, assist in separating membranes adherent to the retina, manipulate retinal detachments and mechanically flatten detached retina. Over the longer term, silicone oil maintains intraocular tamponade. One should be cognizant of the potential uses, benefits and risks of each of these vitreous substitutes.

Pneumatic retinopexy: principles and practice.

Pneumatic retinopexy (PR) is an alternative to scleral buckling for the surgical repair of selected retinal detachments. A gas bubble is injected into the vitreous cavity, and the patient is positioned so that the bubble closes the retinal break (s), allowing absorption of the subretinal fluid. Cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation is applied around the retinal break(s) to form a permanent seal. The procedure can be done in an outpatient setting, and no incisions are required. A multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial has demonstrated that the anatomic success rate is comparable to scleral buckling, but the morbidity is significantly less with PR. If the macula was detached for less than two weeks, the visual results are significantly better with PR than with scleral buckling. Cataract surgery was required significantly more often following scleral buckling than following PR. Two independent reports have shown that an attempt with PR does not disadvantage the eye; such that the results of scleral buckling after failed PR are not significantly different than primary scleral buckling. A comprehensive review of the world literature on PR revealed 27 statistical series totaling 1,274 eyes. These combined series had a single-operation success rate of 80%, and 98% were cured with reoperations. Pneumatic retinopexy should be considered in cases without inferior or extensive retinal breaks and without significant proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The cost of buckling varies from 4 to 10 times that of PR.