[Results of pars plana vitrectomy with intraocular SF-6 gas tamponade in complicated retinal detachment].

Vitrectomy following complicated retinal detachment (PVR, giant tears, persistent retinal detachments or redetachments) has become standard in ophthalmic surgery. Intraocular tamponade is performed with gas (e.g. SF-6) or silicone oil. We retrospectively analyzed our functional and anatomical results after vitrectomy with SF-6 gas tamponade in complicated cases of retinal detachment. Ninety-four severe retinal detachments in 85 patients were treated by vitrectomy using SF-6 gas tamponade in the period from July 1990 to June 1991. In 68% of eyes complete retinal reattachment was achieved with the use of SF-6 gas. Thirty-two per cent of the operated eyes developed retinal redetachment an average of 3.4 weeks after initial surgery; 27% of those eyes were treated again with the use of silicone oil. The success rate using vitrectomy with SF-6 gas ranged between 46% and 74%, depending on pathogenetic factors. The best results were obtained in patients receiving primary vitrectomy for complicated retinal detachment. It is concluded that SF-6 gas is a successful tool in the treatment of severe retinal detachment with primary vitrectomy. In cases of persistent or recurrent detachment of the retina the results are not equally good and these cases merit consideration of silicone oil tamponade, depending on the severity of the disease process. However, no definite preoperative criteria for the success of vitrectomy and gas tamponade were identified.