[The Custodis procedure--technic and results (author's transl)].

Within the post 11 years 2,722 retinal detachments needed surgery. The mostly used procedure of Custodis consists in an implant, which covering the area of the hole is impressed into the sclera by mattress sutures. In 70% of our cases--due to Custodis--we succeeded in avoiding drainage of the subretinal fluid. Since 1966 the additional diathermy and/or lightcoagulation was mostly replaced by cryopexy. Summarizing the number of retinal detachments operated in the University clinic of Münster during 1955--1957 (Pau), 1958--1961 (Böke) as well as ours (1966--1977), 4,030 retinal surgeries (minus 10% encircling procedures) underwent within 18 years a Custodis procedure. The success rate of 85% indicates that Custodis' technic enables to optimal results.