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Blood-clump procedure aids in macular hole repair
Retina. 2011;31(10):2014-2020
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The use of diluted autologous blood clumps aided macular hole repair by labeling the posterior vitreous and coating the internal limiting membrane, a study found.
The study included 26 patients with macular holes who underwent internal limiting membrane peeling. The mean patient age was 59.9 years.
The blood-clump solution was derived from mixing 10 mL of 5% glucose water with 0.3 mL of whole blood. The solution formed a thin, evenly distributed layer on the internal limiting membrane, facilitating identification of the posterior hyaloids and aiding in the induction of posterior vitreous detachment by coating the vitreous, the researchers said.
In 24 eyes, the macular holes were closed with a single surgery. The remaining 2 macular holes were closed after an additional procedure. Postop assessments took place at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. Additional follow-ups were scheduled every 6 months, as needed.
The blood-clump solution may offer an alternative to the two methods most often used to enhance visualization of the internal limiting membrane. Staining dyes have raised concerns about toxicity due to retention, while coating materials such as whole blood sometimes fail due to dispersion during surgery.
"This technique improves upon the use of whole blood in ILM peeling procedures," the study authors wrote. "This efficient, low-cost, and easily performed method may thus be a good alternative to use in ILM peeling for [macular hole] surgery."