Air could be used for tamponade during retinal detachment surgery
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Air could be a safe and affordable alternative to gas for tamponade during retinal detachment surgery, according to a speaker at the Retina World Congress.
Ernesto Bali, MD, said gas is used to prevent fluid movement in the vitreous cavity and reduce risk for fluid escape. However, he said air has many of the same benefits.
“Basically, air and SF6 fulfill the same aims,” he said. “The only thing is that air is not as expandable as SF6. But do we need this expansion effect?”
Bali said gas can come with a few complications, such as gas migration, increased IOP and higher costs. He and his colleagues conducted a retrospective study that compared results of air tamponade and dry-out technique with gas.
The study comprised 320 patients with primary retinal detachment between 2014 and 2021. Starting in 2014, Bali used air in just one-third of his cases. In 2021, he used air for all of his cases after incremental increases over the years.
The 85.7% primary success rate for these surgeries was comparable to what has been observed in the literature, Bali said, adding that air has advantages of lasting a shorter time in the eye, resulting in reduced positioning time and quicker visual recovery, and being cheaper than gas. The lower cost could be a benefit in poorer countries and remote areas, he said.
“It’s the same profile, it’s safe and has the same primary success rate,” he said.
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Bali E. Air tamponade: 8 years results. 2014-21. Presented at: Retina World Congress; May 12-15, 2022; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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