Study measures production of droplet aerosols during phaco, vitrectomy
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Smaller incision size and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose covering the incision greatly reduce the production of droplet aerosols during phacoemulsification, as shown in a study of cadaveric human eyes.
“We repeated the same experiment during pars plana vitrectomy and found that there is a chance of droplet aerosol production during air infusion through a leaking trocar valve,” Harikesh Kaneshayogan, MD, said at the virtual European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons winter meeting.
The study was carried out using a printed optical particle spectrometer (POPS), and the setup consisted of a model human head with a cadaveric eye placed in the eye socket. Phacoemulsification and vitrectomy were performed with the tip of the POPS machine placed temporally to measure droplet aerosol generation. Phacoemulsification was carried out through either a 2.2-mm or 2.75-mm corneal incision. During phacoemulsification, production of droplet aerosols was measured with and without the usage of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) covering the corneal incision. At the second stage of the experiment, droplet aerosol production was measured during the various stages of a 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy.
“Our results show that the mean particle number concentration and particle size generated without HPMC on the cornea are much higher with 2.75 mm as compared with 2.2-mm incision. When HPMC was used, we found that droplet aerosols greater than 1 µm were reduced,” Kaneshayogan said.
No droplet aerosols were generated during pars plana vitrectomy except during air infusion through a leaking trocar valve.
“We stressed the trocar valve to simulate a leaking port, and that was the only stage where aerosol generation was detected,” Kaneshayogan said. “This demonstrates that there is a chance of aerosol being produced at the air infusion stage in the context of a leaking trocar valve.”
Collapse
Kaneshayogan H. Quantification of droplet aerosol generation during cataract and pars plana vitrectomy. Presented at: European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons winter meeting; Feb. 19-21, 2021 (virtual meeting).
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts