Reducing the incidence of early postoperative vitreous haemorrhage by preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab in vitrectomy for diabetic tractional retinal detachment

Acta Ophthalmol. 2010: 88: 635–640

Abstract.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate whether preoperative intravitreal injection of bevacizumab reduces early postoperative vitreous haemorrhage (VH) in vitrectomy for diabetic tractional retinal detachment. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of a consecutive, interventional case series. This included 29 eyes (27 patients) in the bevacizumab group and 40 eyes (37 patients) in the non‐bevacizumab group. For statistical analysis, each patient was assigned to one of four groups according to the haemostatic modalities used (group 1, none; group 2, only long‐acting gas; group 3, only preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab; group 4, both long‐acting gas and preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab). The primary outcome measure was the incidence of early postoperative VH. The secondary outcome measure was visual acuity (VA) at 1 month. Results: The incidence of early postoperative VH was highest in group 1 (63%), followed by group 2 (21%), group 3 (20%) and group 4 (5%). Group 3 showed the best visual recovery in the first month. All eyes in group 3 reached VA ≥ 1/100 at 1 month after the operation, compared with 44%, 29% and 42% in groups 1, 2 and 4, respectively. Conclusions: Preoperative intravitreal injection of bevacizumab may be useful for reducing early postoperative VH in vitrectomy for diabetic tractional retinal detachment. Eyes receiving preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab without the use of long‐acting gas achieved the best visual recovery at 1 month after the operation.