This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Surgeon reports minimal complications with Alcon 25-gauge vitrectomy system
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
NEW YORK — A 25-gauge vitrectomy system from Alcon overcomes many of the limitations of earlier 25-gauge systems, according to a surgeon speaking here.
Steve T. Charles, MD, said he had planned to discuss the disadvantages of 25-gauge systems here at the American Society of Retina Specialists’ annual meeting. But between the time that he submitted his abstract and the time he delivered his presentation, the Memphis, Tenn., surgeon said, he found that Alcon's new system overcame many of the weaknesses he had been prepared to discuss.
Dr. Charles noted that his concerns with 25-gauge systems had been related to potential complications such as hypotony, choroidal hemorrhage, endophthalmitis, blebs and inflammation generally associated with earlier systems. But Dr. Charles reported that his three lowest intraocular pressures with Alcon’s system were 3 mm Hg, 6 mm Hg and 9 mm Hg. None of these patients had vitreous wicks, choroidal hemorrhages or other serious complications.
Dr. Charles cautioned surgeons about the fluidics of the system. He said using a 25-gauge infusion source with a 20-gauge aspiration device has the potential to cause problems. He recommended reducing pressure before slowly withdrawing the cannula at the end of the procedure.
In addition, he said, partial fluid exchange can help reduce the risk of hypotony and wound leakage.