Morphological changes in eyes after suprachoroidal high-frequency electrosurgical treatment of the retina

Abstract

A variety of methods and approaches are used for the surgical treatment of retinal detachment, among which high-frequency electrocoagulation through the suprachoroidal access has attracted the attention of researchers. The research question concerned the selection of the optimal mode of electrocoagulation with the help of a monopolar instrument of the original design, during which a strong chorioretinal adhesion occurs in a short period of time after surgical intervention, there is no need for tamponade, and the destruction of cells of chorioretinal structures is minimized, which is associated with the temperature factor of electrocoagulation. The study was conducted on 52 rabbits (104 eyes), which were divided into 4 groups: Group I – exposure voltage 10–12 V, frequency 66 kHz, current strength 0.1 A (16 animals, 32 eyes); Group II – exposure voltage 12–14 V, other parameters are identical (16 animals, 32 eyes); Group III – exposure voltage 14–16 V, other parameters are identical (16 animals, 32 eyes); Group IV– 4 intact rabbits, 8 eyes (control). The animals were euthanized, the eyes were enucleated. Fragments with areas after electrocoagulation were fixed on a device of the original design, which measured the strength of the chorioretinal adhesion on an electronic jewelry scale by pulling a thread tied to the sample until the sample ruptured. The tissues of the chorioretinal complex were also studied by light microscopy after staining histological sections with hematoxylin-eosin. According to indicators of chorioretinal junction strength, the optimal exposure voltage was 10–12 V. Destruction of cells of the chorioretinal complex at this voltage did not differ from destruction using voltages of 12–14 V and 14–16 V, but the strength of chorioretinal junction was the greatest after 1 hour. 1 week and 2 weeks after surgery. Keywords: high-frequency electrocoagulation, chorioretinal surgery, retinal detachment, strength of chorioretinal adhesion.