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Study shows limited benefit for simultaneous triamcinolone injection during vitrectomy
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging. 2009;40(1):6-12.
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Patients administered triamcinolone simultaneously during vitrectomy for macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion did not have better visual outcomes at 12 months when compared with patients receiving only vitrectomy.
As well, recurrence of macular edema was more frequent among patients with the simultaneous injection, and there were significant differences in foveal thickness after surgery. At 1 month after surgery, foveal thickness decreased in both groups of patients. Foveal thickness continued to decrease up to 12 months in the surgery-only group but increased in patients receiving the injection. There was no significant difference in foveal thickness at 12 months in the triamcinolone group compared with baseline.
The study authors looked at 45 consecutive patients, 23 of whom received a 4 mg intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide during vitrectomy. Visual acuity improved from baseline in both groups, but “the differences in the best corrected visual acuity and the improvement of visual acuity in the two groups were not significant in any postoperative period,” the study said.