Pneumatic Retinopexy: Analysis of Risk Factors and Complications in 850 Cases

Abstract

Background: To study out types and incidence of the complications and reveal the risk factors that affect anatomical and visual success of pneumatic retinopexy (PR) with a high number of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) cases. Methods: Eight hundred and fifty eyes of the 837 patients who admitted at a tertiary center, between January 2015 and January 2022 for the diagnosis of RRD, then underwent PR and had at least 6th month follow-up, were included in the study. The multivariate logistic regression model was created to investigate the factors affecting anatomical and visual success. Results: The anatomical success rate was 53.4% with the first PR and 99.8% after subsequent procedures. Visual acuity of >0.4 LogMAR (<20/50 Snellen), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and macular involvement were determined as significant preoperative risk factors for single operation and visual success in all univariate and multivariate analyses. In addition, pseudophakic/aphakic lens status was associated with single operation failure in all analyses. Besides, in all analyzes for single operation and visual success, new or missed tears, PVR, delayed subretinal fluid, macular hole and subretinal gas were identified as significant postoperative risk factors. Among these, new or missed tears was determined as the most common complication with a rate of 24%. Conclusion: There are many risk factors influencing the success of PR. These factors and complications should always be considered, before applying this rapid, effective, inexpensive and minimally invasive method.