REPORT ON AMNIOTIC MEMBRANE FOR SURGERY OF PERSISTENT MACULAR HOLE.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of 3 cases with persistent macular holes (MH) treated by 23-gauge vitrectomy, extension of internal limiting membrane peeling, a human amniotic membrane (hAM) plug insertion into the subretinal space through MH and expanding gas endotamponade. MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY: The diagnosis of persistent MH in three patients was unilaterally confirmed using SD-OCT. In the first patient a primary MH was present. In the second patient a secondary MH occurred after cystoid macular edema because of central retinal vein occlusion. The third patient suffered with sustained atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the foveola several years before the development of MH. All patients were females. The first two patients underwent reoperation four months after the primary surgery, the third patient underwent two previous pars plana vitrectomies (PPVs), the last one 11 years ago. First a revision of the periphery and removal the vitreous was performed, the ILM peeling zone was extended. The plug from the dehydrated hAM was prepared. Subsequently, the hAM plug was inserted via MH subretinally. Standard cryopexy behind the sclerotomies, fluid-for-air exchange, and vitreous cavity tamponade with expansile gas were performed. RESULTS: Two patients achieved MH closure, in the third patient surgery significantly reduced cystoid edema of the MH edges and the MH diameter, but the MH remained open. All patients experienced a mild improvement in visual acuity and loss of disturbing visual phenomena. CONCLUSION: We have confirmed that hAM plug insertion is feasible for persistent MH even of large sizes. It is essential to orient the basal membrane of the plug towards the neurosensory part of the retina and the chorionic side to the RPE due to growth factors but also for the concavity of the plug towards the RPE. It is possible that the use of tamponade with perfluoropropane (C3F8) is preferable to tamponade with sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The time of reoperation approximately 3-4 months after the first failed vitrectomy can be considered optimal.

Management of acute submacular hemorrhage using intravitreal injection of tissue plasminogen activator and gas: A case series.

The objective of this case series is the evaluation of the efficacy and visual outcomes after displacement of subretinal hemorrhage using intravitreal injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, expansile gas, and in some cases an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent. A case series of 28 eyes of 28 patients (16 men and 12 women with age range 67-95 years) suffering from subretinal hemorrhage (duration range 1-15 days) caused by age-related macular degeneration or retinal macroaneurysm is presented. All the patients were treated with intravitreal injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and gas and some of them received an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent between January 2013 and December 2016. The outcomes assessed were visual acuity (preoperatively 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively) with respect to duration and dimension of hemorrhage, displacement of hemorrhage, and possible complications of the procedure. Successful displacement of hemorrhage was achieved in 25 patients (89.3%), 18 of 28 patients had significant improvement in visual acuity 1 week after the treatment, and 22 of 28 patients had significant improvement in visual acuity 1 month after the treatment. The mean improvement of all patients with anatomical displacement of the hemorrhage in visual acuity was 0.7 ± 0.5 (LogMAR) in 1 month. Two patients developed vitreous hemorrhage after the procedure and one retinal detachment. Visual outcome a month after therapy displayed week correlation with duration, diameter, and thickness of hemorrhage. The results lead to the conclusion that intravitreal treatment of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and expansible gas with or without injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent is effective in improving visual acuity and displacing submacular hemorrhage secondary to age-related macular degeneration and retinal macroaneurysm. The best functional outcomes can be expected in patients regardless of the size and duration of the hemorrhage.

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.

Optimal management of idiopathic macular holes.

This review evaluates the current surgical options for the management of idiopathic macular holes (IMHs), including vitrectomy, ocriplasmin (OCP), and expansile gas use, and discusses key background information to inform the choice of treatment. An evidence-based approach to selecting the best treatment option for the individual patient based on IMH characteristics and patient-specific factors is suggested. For holes without vitreomacular attachment (VMA), vitrectomy is the only option with three key surgical variables: whether to peel the inner limiting membrane (ILM), the type of tamponade agent to be used, and the requirement for postoperative face-down posturing. There is a general consensus that ILM peeling improves primary anatomical hole closure rate; however, in small holes (<250 µm), it is uncertain whether peeling is always required. It has been increasingly recognized that long-acting gas and face-down positioning are not always necessary in patients with small- and medium-sized holes, but large (>400 µm) and chronic holes (>1-year history) are usually treated with long-acting gas and posturing. Several studies on posturing and gas choice were carried out in combination with ILM peeling, which may also influence the gas and posturing requirement. Combined phacovitrectomy appears to offer more rapid visual recovery without affecting the long-term outcomes of vitrectomy for IMH. OCP is licensed for use in patients with small- or medium-sized holes and VMA. A greater success rate in using OCP has been reported in smaller holes, but further predictive factors for its success are needed to refine its use. It is important to counsel patients realistically regarding the rates of success with intravitreal OCP and its potential complications. Expansile gas can be considered as a further option in small holes with VMA; however, larger studies are required to provide guidance on its use.

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.

A Case Report of Closed Traumatic Macular Hole after Intravit real Gas Injection

We injected tissue plasminogen activator(TPA) and expansile gas into the vitreous of 17-year-old patient who presented with traumatic macular hole and subretinal hemorrhage. Most of the subretinal hemorrhage drained into the vitreous cavity through the macular hole. Two weeks after intravitreal injection, closure of macular hole accompanied by complete posterior vitreous detachment was observed. This case suggests that the tangential vitreous traction may play an important role in the development of traumatic macular hole as in the development of idiopathic macular hole. It is speculated that the induction of posterior vitreous detachment without vitrectomy can result in removal of this traction and closure of traumatic macular hole.