44.
Sutureless Vitreo Retinal Surgery
Sundaram Natarajan (Mumbai)
25G and later 23G vitrectomy has ushered an era of sutureless vitrectomy. However, in cases
requiring scleral buckling in addition, the buckling elements required suturing. Also, the conjunctival
peritomy wound needed to be sutured for closure.
In the presentation, a suture less technique of combined scleral buckling and 23G vitrectomy
is described where both the tier and the band were inserted into partial thickness scleral tunnels
followed by 23 G Vitrectomy. Furthermore, the conjunctival peritomy was repaired by
fibrin tissue glue thereby doing away with sutures altogether.
In a consecutive series of twenty three eyes of 23 patients who underwent the above procedure
(over a period of 9 months), good coverage of retinal breaks and adequate buckle height was
seen in all cases, retina was attached in all but 2 cases. There was no buckle related complication.
Incomplete closure of conjunctival peritomy wound was seen in 1 case. In selected cases this procedure of sutureless
vitreoretinal surgery can replace conventional sutured procedures and can do away with suture-related complications
and concerns.