%0 Journal Article
%T Twenty-seven-gauge vitrectomy: a consecutive, single-centre case series with exclusive use over a 4-year period.
%A Ng E
%A Masalkhi M
%A Steel DH
%A Pavičić-Astaloš J
%A Nolan C
%A Mernagh S
%A Ankamah E
%J BMC Ophthalmol
%V 23
%N 1
%D 2023 Dec 21
%M 38129776
%F 2.086
%R 10.1186/s12886-023-03265-w
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>To assess the safety and effectiveness of the exclusive use of 27-gauge instruments for all vitreoretinal diseases requiring vitrectomy.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>In this retrospective study, 1020 consecutive surgeries were performed on 958 eyes of 848 patients using 27-gauge instruments from March 2017 to June 2021. Patients with a minimum follow-up of 3 months were included. Surgical case-mix, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), intra- and post-operative complications, and surgery times were recorded.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The study patients were followed up for averagely 11 months. Of the 1020 vitrectomies, 958 were primary procedures. Of the 148 retinal detachment (RD) cases, 138 (93%) required a single vitrectomy. Primary macular hole closure was achieved in 143 of 145 (99%) cases. The average surgical times were 55 and 38 min for RD surgeries and for all other indications, respectively. BCVA improved significantly at the final visit (20/49) compared with the pre-operative visit (20/78) (p < 0.01). IOP was similar at the pre-operative (14.8mmHg) and final (14.3mmHg) visits. Complications recorded include transient hypotony in 39 eyes, iatrogenic retinal breaks in 2 eyes, and a vitreous bleed in 1 other eye.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>This study revealed that 27-gauge vitrectomy instruments can be used for a wide range of indications, with exclusive use in certain settings. The outcomes were similar to other gauges, including for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, with minimal complications.