Efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in the visualization of the vitreous during pars plana vitrectomy

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection during pars plana vitrectomy, to facilitate the visualization of the internal limiting membrane (ILM), residual vitreous cortex (RVC) and preretinal membranes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 164 patients due to rhematogenous retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, macular hole, lens luxation, endophthalmitis, intraocular foreign body, malignant glaucoma, preretinal membrane and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. After surgical separation of the posterior vitreous and removal of any visible epiretinal membrane, TA suspension was injected over the posterior pole into the vitreous cavity. Then, visualized RVC was removed and ILM peeling was performed. RESULTS: Upon intravitreal injection of TA, vitreous and ILM could be visualized by numerous particles of TA dispersed as white specks. RVC and ILM were completely removed in all patients. No complications related to the use of TA were encountered, even after complex procedures such as, vitrectomy combined with scleral buckling or phakoemulsification surgery in a long term follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative visualization of RVC and ILM with intravitreal TA was found to be a useful adjunct to pars plana vitrectomy. This technique may facilitate both removal of epiretinal membrane and separation of vitreous, especially in patients with undetached vitreous.     

Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide as an additional tool in pars plana vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal injections of crystalline triamcinolone acetonide as an adjunctive procedure in pars plana vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: This nonrandomized comparative study included 30 patients (32 eyes) who underwent standardized pars plana vitrectomy for treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and who received an intravitreal injection of 25 mg triamcinolone acetonide at the end of surgery. Mean follow-up time was 5.60 +/- 5.14 months. The study group was compared with a control group (32 eyes) matched with the study group for preoperative and intraoperative parameters and who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for proliferative diabetic retinopathy without intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide. RESULTS: The study group and the control group did not vary significantly in frequency of postoperative retinal detachment, re-pars plana vitrectomy, or postoperative enucleation or phthisis bulbi, or in best postoperative visual acuity, visual acuity at end of the study, or gain in visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, the study group with pars plana vitrectomy and intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection compared with the nonrandomized control group without intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection did not show a higher than usual rate of postoperative complications. As a corollary, however, the data do not suggest the adjunct use of 25 mg intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide combined with pars plana vitrectomy as treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy.     

曲安奈德辅助玻璃体切割及常规玻璃体切割治疗弥漫性糖尿病黄斑水肿临床疗效观察

目的 对比研究曲安奈德辅助玻璃体切割与单纯玻璃体切割手术治疗弥漫性糖尿病黄斑水肿的临床效果.方法 回顾性收集2004年6月至2007年9月因弥漫性糖尿病黄斑水肿性行玻璃体切割治疗的29只眼28例病人,分为:单纯玻璃体切割及TA辅助玻璃体切割两组.所有患者均严格控制血糖、血压,术前均详细检查视力、眼压、裂隙灯、检眼镜眼底、荧光血管造影(FFA)、光学相干断层扫描(OCT),分别记录术前术后1月、3月、6月、12月视力及黄斑厚度,进行对比,并观察手术后并发症,全部患者术后平均随访(13.8±1.2)月,结果所有患者均顺利进行玻璃体手术治疗,单纯玻璃体切割组:术前患者平均视力0.15±0.09,术后1月、3月、6月、12月平均视力0.13±0.08、0.16±0.11、0.22±0.09、0.26±0.12,术前黄斑厚度平均OCT值(434±121)μm,术后1月、3月、6月、12月平均OCT值为(358±108)μm、(322±86)μm、(284±69)μm、(246±75)μm,TA辅助玻璃体切割组:术前患者平均视力0.13±0.07,术后1月、3月、6月、12月平均视力0.12±0.06、0.15±0.09、0.21±0.11、0.24±0.10,术前黄斑厚度平均OCT值(452±106)μm,术后1月、3月、6月、12月平均OCT值为(295±113)μm、(276±77)μm、(261±52)μm、(233±58)μm,两组患者术后12月视力均较术前明显提高,有统计学差异,黄斑中心凹厚度变化,各观察时间点均较术前有统计学意义下降.对比两组患者术前术后各观察时间点视力及黄斑中心凹厚度变化显示,TA辅助玻璃体切割组术后早期黄斑中心凹厚度下降程度,较单纯玻璃体切割组明显,有统计学意义.术中TA辅助玻璃体切割组3例出现医源性网膜裂孔,激光封口,无患者术后出现玻璃体出血,虹膜新生血管,视网膜前膜,无患者行白内障手术.结论 两种方法显示,玻璃体切割手术可显著减轻弥漫性糖尿病黄斑水肿并逐步改善患者视功能,TA辅助玻璃体切割手术增加了术中透明玻璃体可视性,有利于后极部玻璃体切除,术后可较快恢复黄斑组织结构,对于手术治疗减轻黄斑水肿机制及手术远期效果还需大样本多中心临床观察.     

Intravitreal concentration and clearance of triamcinolone acetonide in nonvitrectomized human eyes

PURPOSE: To determine the intravitreal concentration and clearance of triamcinolone acetonide at various intervals after intravitreal injection into nonvitrectomized eyes. METHODS: Six participants were administered 4 mg (0.1 cc) of triamcinolone acetonide ophthalmic suspension. All six eyes underwent therapeutic pars plana vitrectomy with membranectomy at various post injection intervals ranging from 1.25 to 5 months from the intravitreal injection. Undiluted specimens of vitreous overlying the macula and of aqueous humor were submitted for analysis. Vitreous and aqueous humor concentrations of triamcinolone were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Four eyes demonstrated detectable intravitreal concentrations of triamcinolone acetonide between 1.25 and 2.75 months after a single injection. Two eyes had an undetectable level of triamcinolone in both the vitreous and aqueous at 3 and 5 months post single injection. CONCLUSIONS: The intravitreal concentration of triamcinolone acetonide is detectable up to 2.75 months post a single 4 mg injection in nonvitrectomized eyes. A reinjection interval of 3 months may be needed to achieve sustained measurable levels of triamcinolone in nonvitrectomized patients.     

Staining of the internal limiting membrane with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of triamcinolone acetonide to stain the internal limiting membrane (ILM) during vitreoretinal surgery. METHODS: A prospective clinical interventional case series study was performed, including 16 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy. Seven patients had proliferative diabetic retinopathy with macular edema. Seven patients had epiretinal membranes. One patient had a retinal detachment with a cystoid macular edema and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. One patient had a pseudophakic cystoid macular edema. After vitrectomy, 2 mL triamcinolone acetonide suspension was injected into the vitreous cavity. The ILM was peeled, as it was evidenced by the particles of triamcinolone that adhered to its surface. The ultrastructure of tissue harvested during surgery was analyzed using transmission electron microscopy in selected cases to confirm the presence or absence of ILM. RESULTS: After the injection of triamcinolone, the visualization of the vitreous base and hyaloid was excellent in all patients. The particles of triamcinolone deposited on the retinal surface enabled the ILM to be stained. Once removed, the ILM was clearly distinguishable, floating in the vitreous cavity with particles of triamcinolone adhering to its surface. Ultrastructural analysis of tissue collected during vitrectomy confirmed that the removed tissue represented ILM. CONCLUSION: We observed that triamcinolone acetonide can be useful in staining the internal limiting membrane, thus greatly facilitating the retinal ILM peeling. The absence of particles of triamcinolone on the underlying retina enables the area where the ILM has already been removed to be identified.     

玻璃体切除术中玻璃体内注射曲安奈德的意义

目的研究曲安奈德（triamcinolone,TA）辅助玻璃体切除手术在眼外伤手术中的应用价值。方法124例（138眼）于2007年6月～2008年6月行玻璃体切除术,术中注入已过滤的TA悬浮液0．1mL（40mg／mL）,以帮助辨认玻璃体后皮质、视网膜前增生膜、黄斑前膜和内界膜。手术后随访2～8月。结果所有的病例,经TA注入后,可明显改善玻璃体后皮质、视网膜前膜和内界膜的辨认情况。术后出现高眼压4例,经治疗后均缓解。未见其它并发症。结论经过滤的TA注入可作为玻璃体切除手术中较好的辅助方法。TA悬浮液是呈白色胶样,可粘附于玻璃体皮质、视网膜前膜或内界膜,帮助三者之间的分辨,提高手术效果。术中应用TA未发现明显副作用。     

Double visualization using triamcinolone acetonide and trypan blue during stage 3 macular hole surgery

PURPOSE: To study the usefulness of intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide and trypan blue for facilitating visualization and dissection of the posterior vitreous cortex and internal limiting membrane (ILM) during vitrectomy in idiopathic stage 3 macular holes. METHODS: Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 10 eyes of 10 patients with idiopathic stage 3 macular holes. After core vitrectomy had been performed, triamcinolone acetonide was injected over the posterior pole. After separation of the visualized posterior vitreous cortex, trypan blue was injected over the macular area. Excised specimens were examined by electron microscopy. RESULTS: Upon injection of triamcinolone acetonide, the posterior vitreous cortex and residual vitreous cortex could be visualized in all patients. The posterior vitreous cortex and residual vitreous cortex were completely removed. The ILM of the retina was stained faint blue and was successfully removed in all patients. Electron microscopy revealed that the triamcinolone-acetonide-visualized layer and the trypan-blue-stained layer had different histological features. No complications related to the use of triamcinolone acetonide and trypan blue were encountered. CONCLUSION: Double visualization of the posterior vitreous cortex and ILM using triamcinolone acetonide and trypan blue during vitrectomy may facilitate separation of the posterior vitreous cortex from the retina and removal of the ILM around the macular hole in patients with idiopathic stage 3 macular holes.     

曲安奈德在儿童玻璃体视网膜手术的应用

目的观察曲安奈德注射液在儿童玻璃体视网膜手术中协助辨别和清除残留玻璃体皮质的作用及效果。方法对在玻璃体视网膜手术术前和手术中未发现明确玻璃体后脱离的253例儿童患者253只眼,经大部分玻璃体切除后.玻璃体内注射曲安奈德混悬液2mg,对后极部视网膜表面可能残存的玻璃体皮质进行标识,将粘附曲安奈德的玻璃体皮质完全剥除。结果乳白色的曲安奈德粘附在玻璃体皮质上可清楚地显示附着于视网膜表面的残留玻璃体皮质的部位及范围。使之容易辨认并易于剥除。痊愈229只眼(90.51%),视力≤0.02者24只眼,视力>0.02者141只眼(55.73%),视力≥0.1者88只眼(34.78%),最佳矫正视力达0.9。结论曲安奈德在玻璃体视网膜手术中的应用有助于辨别残留的玻璃体皮质,提高彻底清除玻璃体皮质的手术效率及成功率。     

Results of anterior chamber clearance via the pars plana in pseudophakic endophthalmitis

PURPOSE: Patients with endophthalmitis have extensive fibrinous exudates in the anterior chamber. Clearance of these exudates in pseudophakic patients during vitrectomy is difficult. We evaluated the results of the pars plana approach for clearing these exudates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with pseudophakic endophthalmitis underwent clearance of anterior chamber exudates through the pars plana approach after initial creation of a peripheral iridectomy with a vitrectome. RESULTS: The exudates were adequately cleared in all 18 patients with good posterior segment visualization during vitrectomy. Minor punctate iris bleeds (4 patients), intraoperative dislocation of the intraocular lens (IOL) (1 patient) and postoperative dislocation of the IOL following blunt trauma, 9 months after vitrectomy (1 patient) were the complications noted. CONCLUSION: This technique is simple, safe and helps clearing anterior chamber exudates. It also permits excellent visualization during vitrectomy for pseudophakic endophthalmitis.     

Conjunctival necrosis following intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide

PURPOSE: To report a case of localized conjunctival necrosis following intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA). DESIGN: Single observational case report. METHODS: A 63-year- old man presented with inferotemporal branch retinal vein occlusion and macular edema in his left eye (OS). He underwent pars plana vitrectomy combined with arteriovenous sheathotomy. Postoperatively, as the macular edema persisted, he underwent an uneventful intravitreal injection of TA. RESULTS: Ten days following the intravitreal injection, he presented with an area of localized conjunctival necrosis overlying the scleral entry site. Gram stain showed a few white blood cells and no organisms. The conjunctival swab showed no growth on culture. The area of conjunctival necrosis responded well to intense topical antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival necrosis is a rare anterior segment complication of intravitreal injection of TA. With the increased usage of intravitreal TA for various posterior segment disorders, the treating physician should be aware of this complication.     

Intravitreal triamcinolone for treatment of complicated proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative vitreoretinopathy

BACKGROUND: We present a retrospective evaluation of the clinical outcome and complications associated with intravitreal injection of unaltered triamcinolone acetonide in conjunction with pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection for the treatment of complicated proliferative diabetic retinopathy with tractional retinal detachment and severe proliferative vitreoretinopathy. METHODS: Thirteen eyes of 12 consecutive patients were identified from a computerized patient database. All eyes were operated on by the same surgeon and received 4 mg of unaltered, commercially available triamcinolone acetonide intravitreally, before silicone oil injection. The patients were followed for a mean of 4.7 months (range 1-15 months), and demographic as well as pertinent preoperative and postoperative clinical information was gathered. RESULTS: At the last follow-up visit, vision had improved in 4 eyes, remained stable in 5 eyes, and worsened in 4 eyes. The retina was attached at the end of follow-up in 10 of the 13 eyes. Eight of the 13 eyes did not show any clinical signs of re-roliferation or redetachment during the course of follow-up. The mean intra-ocular pressure did not increase (preoperative value was 10.8+/- 6.22 mm Hg with a range of 0-22 mm Hg; at last follow-up, mean pressure was 9.6 +/-3.86 mm Hg with a cumulative postoperative range of 0-26 mm Hg). Steroid crystals were visible at 1 month postoperatively in 3 eyes and did not hinder fundus examination significantly. Interpretation: The intravitreal injection of low-dose, unaltered triamcinolone acetonide in the setting of pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil injection for the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy and complicated proliferative diabetic retinopathy appears to be well tolerated. Further controlled study is needed to clearly define the potential beneficial effects of intravitreal steroids in these 2 disease processes.     

曲安奈德在玻璃体切割术中的应用

目的:讨论曲安奈德(TA)在玻璃体切割术(PPV)中的辅助作用。方法;2000/2005我院收治的43例45眼经大部分玻璃体切割患者,术中抽取2～3mL(1～2mg)TA注入玻璃体腔。结果:TA粘附在玻璃体皮质上,可以清楚地显示残留玻璃体皮质的部位和范围,并易于剥除。结论:PPV术中应用TA可提高手术安全性,缩短手术时间,且TA具抗炎、抗增殖作用,无明显毒副作用。     

曲安奈德在玻璃体切割术中的临床应用

目的：探讨玻璃体切割术(PPV)中应用曲安奈德(Triamcinolone Acetonide, TA)识别玻璃体后皮质(PVC)且辅助有效清除残余玻璃体后皮质的临床意义。

方法：收集2009-03/2013-03行玻璃体切割术患者35例35眼,术中分次各注射TA 0.1mL。以帮助辨认玻璃体后皮质、视网膜前增殖膜、黄斑前膜,并有效清除。16例硅油填充,9例C₂F₆填充。术后随访6～12mo。

结果：所有病例经玻璃体腔TA注射后,明显改善玻璃体后皮质、视网膜前膜、内界膜的辨认情况。其中,13例为玻璃体后皮质残留,19例为玻璃体后脱离(posterior detachment of vitreous,PVD)。经过有效的清除后,黄斑裂孔闭合率100%。视网膜复位率84.6%。

结论：利用曲安奈德在玻璃体切割术中的良好可视性能有效识别玻璃体后皮质的残留、减少视网膜损伤、提高手术成功率。没有发现与TA有关的副作用。     

Full-thickness macular hole in a patient with diabetic cystoid macular oedema treated by intravitreal triamcinolone injections

PURPOSE: Full-thickness macular hole associated with diabetic macular oedema is a rare feature and its pathogenesis remains incompletely elucidated. We report the occurrence of a full-thickness macular hole, documented with optical coherence tomography (OCT), in a patient with diabetic cystoid macular oedema treated by intravitreal triamcinolone injections. CASE REPORT: A 48-year-old woman with refractory diabetic cystoid macular oedema underwent successive intravitreal triamcinolone injections, which were followed by a progressive thinning of the neurosensory retina at the fovea, and then by a full-thickness macular hole, associated with a perifoveal posterior hyaloid detachment, visible on OCT. During pars plana vitrectomy, a thin epiretinal macular membrane was diagnosed and removed. DISCUSSION: Pathogenesis of the present full-thickness macular hole associated with diabetic macular oedema is different from that of idiopathic macular holes because anteroposterior vitreous tractions were not involved in its formation. Recurrent intravitreal triamcinolone injections may have had an indirect role in the development of the macular hole, by favouring the rupture of distended Muller cells and intraretinal pseudocysts.     

Intractable glaucoma following intravitreal triamcinolone in central retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE: To document secondary glaucoma observed after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone for cystoid macular edema in central retinal vein occlusion. DESIGN: An interventional case series. METHODS: Retrospective study. The setting was a tertiary care referral institute. Nine patients with central retinal vein occlusion and cystoid macular edema received 4.0 mg/0.1 ml of intravitreal triamcinolone acetate injected through the inferior pars plana under topical anesthesia. Baseline intraocular pressures were normal in all, and no patients had glaucoma. RESULTS: Seven of the nine patients had a post-injection rise in intraocular pressures, of which one had intractable secondary glaucoma requiring removal of the depot corticosteroid by pars plana vitrectomy combined with trabeculectomy. Two patients were controlled only by maximal medical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of intractable glaucoma after intravitreal triamcinolone in central retinal vein occlusion is a serious concern and warrants caution in the use of this modality for these patients.     

Triamcinolone acetonide facilitates removal of the epiretinal membrane and separation of the residual vitreous cortex in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment due to a macular hole

PURPOSE: To study the usefulness of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection during vitrectomy in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment due to a macular hole. METHODS: Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in 6 patients with retinal detachment resulting from a highly myopic eye with a macular hole. After separation of the posterior hyaloid and removal of any visible epiretinal membrane, triamcinolone acetonide was injected over the posterior pole. Excised specimens were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Upon injection of triamcinolone acetonide, the entire epiretinal membrane and residual vitreous cortex could be visualized in all patients. The epiretinal membrane and residual posterior vitreous cortex were completely removed. Successful reattachment was performed without retinal damage in all cases. Electron microscopy revealed a cellular epiretinal membrane within a collagenous matrix lining the smooth internal surface of the internal limiting membrane. No complications related to the use of triamcinolone acetonide were encountered. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative visualization of the epiretinal membrane and residual posterior vitreous cortex with triamcinolone acetonide was found to be a useful adjunct to vitrectomy. Using triamcinolone acetonide during vitrectomy may facilitate both removal of the epiretinal membrane around the macular hole and separation of the residual vitreous cortex from the retina in highly myopic eyes with retinal detachment.     

Intraocular endoscopy: A review

Optimal visualization is one of the most challenging aspects of performing vitreoretinal surgery. In situations where conventional microscopic techniques provide poor posterior visualization, the adjunctive skill set of endoscopic visualization may be needed. This allows for by-passing the opaque anterior segment media and getting access to the posterior segment pathology. Endoscopic vitrectomy is a useful and unique adjunct to microincision vitreoretinal surgery. The optical set-up of endoscopy allows for clinical approaches that are impossible with regular microscope viewing systems. These include the ability to observe across optically significant anterior segment opacities and directly visualize the posterior segment of the eye. It also allows for visualizing the difficult-to-access retroirideal, retrolental, and anterior retinal structures. Surgical access to anatomic spaces like the pars plana, pars plicata, ciliary sulcus, ciliary body, and peripheral lens is tedious. This is made simpler by endoscopy. In this review, we summarize and review the usage of the intraocular endoscope as a diagnostic and therapeutic armamentarium across a wide spectrum of ocular pathologies.     

Triamcinolone-assisted Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Retinal Disease

Purpose:To determine whether triamcinolone acetonide(TA)staining facilitates posterior hyaloid removal in patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for retinal disease. Methods: A triamcinolone acetonide(TA)-assisted vitrectomy was performed on patients with the following disease: proliferative diabetic retionpathy(5eyes) , central retinal vein occlusion(5eyes) , macuar hole (3eyes) , and epiretinal membrane(2eyes). Eyes without apparent preoperative posterior vitreous detachment were enrolled in this study. After a core PPV, TA aqueous suspension (40 mg/ml) was injected into the mid vitreous cavity to visualize the posterior hyaloid, thus allowing a complete posterior hyaloid separation and removal. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), tamponade, corneal pathology, after-cataract, vitreous hemorrhage, and necessity for reoperation were thereafter examined for at least 3 months after surgery. Results: In all patients, the vitreous body was clearly seen by means of triamcinolone during surgery, and complete removal of posterior hyaloid was facilitated and confirmed. Retina was attached in 14 of 15 eyes, and vision acuity was improved in 9 of 15 eyes. Two eyes showed transient postoperative IOP elevation, 2 eyes had after cataract formation and leye had cataract progression. Vitreous hemorrhage occurred in 1 eye. No eye had corneal pathology. Conclusion: Triamcinolone improved the visibility of the hyaloid and the safety of surgical procedures during PPV. No obvious adverse effect due to toxicity of TA accrued in TA-assisted PPV. Eye Science 2005;21:142-146.     

Comparative study of vitrectomy versus intravitreous triamcinolone for diabetic macular edema on randomized paired-eyes

Background  

The present study was performed to compare the effects of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and single intravitreaous triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) on diabetic macular edema (DME) in paired eyes.     

Indications for pars plana vitrectomy after perforating injuries (author's transl)

A preliminary report is given on 100 consecutive cases of pars plana vitrectomy after perforating injuries due to nonmagnetic IOFB (9 cases), magnetic IOFB (32 cases) and lacerating injuries (19 cases). Pars plana vitrectomy was performed to remove persistent vitreous membranes, to prevent proliferative transformation with following retinal detachment or to make the IOFB become visible for extraction. These eyes were practically amaurotic but in 43 cases out of 100 a positive results could be achieved (i.e. the retina being attached, posterior pole becoming visible). Indications, technique and complications of both pars plana vitrectomy and FB extraction are discussed. As a result pars plana vitrectomy should be performed within an interval of at least 2 weeks after the first intervention (i.e. wound closure of FB extraction).