23-Gauge Pars Plana Vitrectomy Alone by a Bimanual Technique for the Removal of Dense Posteriorly Dislocated Crystalline Lens ()
1. Introduction
Despite continuing improvements in phacoemulsification machines and the development of new surgical techniques, posteriorly dislocated crystalline lens remains a well- documented complication of modern cataract surgery that occurs with rates ranging from 0.3% to 1.1% [1] .
There are many techniques for moving posteriorly dislocated crystalline lenses. The standard 20-gauge vitrectomy system has been traditionally applied [2] [3] . The introduction of micro-incision vitrectomy surgeries in the early to mid-2000s enabled the effective management of posteriorly dislocated crystalline lenses with 23- or 25-gauge systems [4] - [10] . However, cases with dense lens material remain challenging for the smaller 23- and 25-gauge systems. One sclerotomy is commonly enlarged by the majority of surgeons to allow for the use of a 20-gauge fragmatome [11] . Such procedure requires a conjunctival peritomy, a larger sclerotomy, and closure of the wounds with sutures, which may lead to increased operative and healing times, postoperative discomfort and refractive changes [2] [3] .
Herein, we describe a bimanual technique for the removal of particular dense posteriorly dislocated crystalline lenses that involves only a 23-gauge vitrectomy which uses the light pipe as a prechopper and incorporates the “stop-and-chop” as well as the “divide-and-conquer” techniques of traditional cataract surgery.
2. Patients and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Subjects
This was a retrospective, non-comparative, interventional case series study of consecutive patients who underwent 23-gauge PPV alone via our bimanual technique for the removal of dense posteriorly dislocated crystalline lenses between April 2012 and January 2015. All of the surgeries were performed by one of the authors (Q.-H.Q). Patients with <6 months of postoperative follow-up were excluded from the study. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects prior to the surgeries. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai General Hospital, where the study took place.
2.2. Examination Protocol
Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative patient data were retrospectively evaluated from the medical records and included demographic information, previous ocular history, BCVA as measured with logMAR system, slit lamp biomicroscopy, IOP as measured with noncontact tonometry (Nikon, Japan), posterior segment visualization via indirect ophthalmoscopy, duration of PPV and complications. The gradings of the nuclear densities were performed preoperatively by the operating surgeon according to LOCS II. Only patients with N3 nuclear densities were included in the study. The presence of brunescent nuclear pieces was considered. In all cases, the amount of dislocated nuclear material was also intraoperatively graded by the operating surgeon. Postoperative ocular hypertension was defined as an IOP equal to or greater than 30 mmHg, and hypotonia was defined as an IOP equal to or below 5 mmHg.
2.3. Surgical Procedures
All surgical procedures were performed by the same vitreoretinal surgeon (Q.-H.Q) using a standard three-port, transconjunctival 23-gauge PPV system (Bausch & Lomb, St. Louis, MO, USA). In cases of same-day PPV, a single 10-0 nylon suture was placed on the corneal tunnel prior to trocar insertion to prevent wound leakage. Full vitrectomies were performed with the aid of sclera depression in all cases. After the vitrectomies were completed, the dense posteriorly dislocated crystalline lenses were removed with the 23-gauge PPV system alone in all cases.
Lensectomy with a cutter was attempted using modified settings. The standard vitrectomy settings typically include a maximum proportional aspiration vacuum of 300 - 400 mmHg and a fixed cut rate of 300 - 600 cpm. To facilitate the removal of those particular dense lens fragments during lensectomy, the “3D mode” was used (start treadle 2500 cpm/150mmHg, full treadle 300 - 600 cpm/300 - 400 mmHg). The infusion pressure for the initial vitrectomy was set to 26 mmHg using an IOP compensation system and increased to 35 mmHg (also with IOP compensation) for the lensectomy.
Articulate descriptions of the surgical technique were illustrated by the presented figures (Figures 1-4).
Firstly, the 23-gauge vitreous cutter was used to capture the posteriorly dislocated crystalline lens with illumination provided by the light pipe (Figure 1). Complete crystalline lenses or large crystalline lens fragments were somehow difficult to grasp, or easy to fall off when captured, thus, an increased maximum aspiration vacuum was required to help grasp the posteriorly dislocated lens material in this procedure (the aspiration vacuum was increased to 600 mmHg, and the cut rate was reduced to 300 cpm from 600 cpm when vitrectomy).
Secondly, the lens material was rotated upside down with the guidance of the 23-gauge vitreous cutter and the light pipe as an assistance (Figure 2). The complete crystalline lenses or crystalline lens fragments tended to trip off the vitreous cutter. It was important for the vitreous cutter to clung to the central point on the front surface of the lens material, and for the operator to increase the aspiration vacuum. Thus, the lens material could be rotated upside down and well stabilized by the suction, the weight of the lens material itself as well as the support of the vitreous cutter. The 23-gauge vitreous cutter was then placed downward.
Subsequently, the light pipe was used as a prechopper and the “stop-and-chop” surgical technique was applied to chop the lens material into two parts (Figure 3). The pressure must be on the central point of the lens material.
The “divide-and-conquer” technique was then repetitively applied to chop the lens material into smaller parts until the parts could be guided by the light pipe into the vitreous cutter part (Figure 4).
To safely remove the lens fragments from the vitreous cavity, the lens materials were aspirated with the cutter and carried away from the retinal surface into the middle of the vitreous cavity. In all cases, at the end of the PPV procedure, the peripheral retina was thoroughly examined for any iatrogenic retinal breaks. The patients included in this study underwent PPV and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation either in the same surgical setting or in settings other than those of the complicated cataract surgeries. The sclerotomy ports were then removed, and the wounds were examined for any leaks that were sutured when present with 8-0 absorbable suture.
2.4. Main Outcome Measures
All patients were examined on postoperative day 1 and at various later times until at least 6 months postoperatively depending on the patients’ recovery.
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I: infusion; L: light pipe; V: vitreous cutter
Figure 1. The posteriorly dislocated crystalline lens was captured by the 23- gauge vitreous cutter with the help of the light pipe.
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I: infusion; L: light pipe; V: vitreous cutter
Figure 2.The lens material was rotated upside down with the guidance of the 23-gauge vitreous cutter that clung to its central point on the front surface .
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I: infusion; L: light pipe; V: vitreous cutter
Figure 3. The light pipe was used as a prechopper via the application of pressure on the top of the central point of the lens material to chop it into two parts .
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I: infusion; L: light pipe; V: vitreous cutter
Figure 4. The lens material was chopped into smaller parts until the parts could be guided by the light pipe into the vitreous cutter part.
The patients were monitored for complications, including wound leakage, hemorrhage, retinal tears or detachments, hypotonia, glaucoma, endophthalmitis, choroidal detachment and cystoid macular edema (CME).
2.5. Statistical Analysis
The continuous variables are described as the means ± standard deviations, and the categorical variables are described as percentages. Comparisons of means were performed with two-tailed t tests. P < 0.05 was considered significant.
3. Results
3.1. Demographical Results
Thirty eyes of 31 patients who underwent 23-gauge PPV alone for the removal of dense posteriorly dislocated crystalline lenses and had a minimum of 6 months postoperative follow-up were included in the study. The enrolled patients consisted of 17 males and 14 females with a mean age of (75.84 ± 6.17) years (range 59 - 90). The mean amount of dislocated nuclear material as a percentage of the whole lens was 87.42% ± 12.10% (range 60% - 100%). None of the patients exhibited dislocation of the brunescent nuclear fragments (Table 1).
3.2. Visual Outcomes
The mean length of follow-up was 7.61 ± 1.87 with a range of 6 months to 1 year.
Prior to cataract surgery, the mean BCVA was 0.22 ± 0.11 logMAR system, and the mean BCVA improved to 0.33 ± 0.07 logMAR system following the surgeries. The visual outcomes of the patients significantly improved following surgery (t = 5.13; P < 0.01; Table 1 and Table 2).
3.3. Surgical Procedures
All patients underwent 23-gauge PPV alone without the enlargement of any sclerotomies.
PPV was performed on the same day immediately after complicated cataract extraction in 29 cases, and 2 patients underwent PPV 7 and 8 day later. The mean operative time was 46.32 ± 4.80 minutes with a range of 38.00 to 57.00 minutes.
In 22 cases (70.97%), dense nuclear pieces obstructed the vitreous cutter, which was unblocked via the manual injection of a balanced salt solution into the cutter (Table 2 and Table 3).
3.4. Intraocular Pressure Changes
Prior to PPV, the mean IOP was 16.32 ± 2.06 mmHg. Only one patient (3.23%) had an IOP > 21 mmHg, and this condition was the result of a history of POAG. On postoperative day 1, the mean postoperative IOP was 16.90 ± 3.99 mmHg, and there were no cases of ocular hypotonia. Only one patient (3.23%) exhibited a postoperative IOP greater than 30 mmHg on the first postoperative day (Table 1 and Table 2).
3.5. Intraoperative and Operative Complications
In 22 cases (70.97%), dense nuclear pieces obstructed the vitreous cutter, but these obstructions were easily removed via the manual injection of a balanced salt solution into the cutter.
All of the conjunctival incisions self-closed within the first week of follow-up. No granulation was observed in the conjunctiva. Seven patients (22.58%) presented with corneal edema on the first postoperative day, but these conditions all resolved by the 1-week postoperative visit.
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Table 1. Demographics, preoperative and intraoperative clinical characteristics.
None of the patients retained lens fragments postoperatively. There were no cases of postoperative retinal detachment. Postoperative CME developed in 2 patients (6.45%) and was treated with topical steroid and non-steroid drops with resolution of the intraretinal fluid. Only a single patient (3.23%) exhibited a postoperative IOP greater than 30 mmHg on the first postoperative day, and this condition was successfully topically
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Table 2. Postoperative clinical characteristics.
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Table 3. Intraoperative and postoperative complications.
treated. A rapid resolution to normal pressure occurred within 24 hours. No long-term medication was needed to control the postoperative intraocular pressure.
No patient exhibited an IOP below 5 mmHg. No endophthalmitis or choroidal detachments were observed during the follow-up (Table 3).
4. Discussion
This report demonstrated the utility of a 23-gauge PPV system alone combined with our bimanual technique for the removal of particular dense posteriorly dislocated crystalline lenses.
The occurrence of a posteriorly dislocated crystalline lens following complicated cataract surgery is a well-documented complication of modern cataract surgeries that occurs in approximately 0.3% to 1.1% of all cases [1] .
The removal of posteriorly dislocated crystalline lenses from the vitreous cavity and subsequent visual recovery has been successfully achieved with 20-gauge PPV systems for many years. However, the diameter of 20-gauge devices is 0.9 mm, which may necessitate relatively large corneal incisions. Complications of 20-gauge PPV procedures, including retinal detachment, CME, hypotonia, and glaucoma, have been reported by many authors [2] [3] .
Over the past decade, micro-incision vitrectomy surgeries using either 23- or 25- gauge systems have increased in popularity among surgeons [4] - [11] . The advantages of small-incision PPV over the traditional 20-gauge approach include a reduction in surgical trauma, self-sealing wounds, decreased post-operative inflammation and faster visual recovery [12] [13] .
However, cases with particular dense lens material are still a challenge for the smaller 23- or 25-gauge systems. One sclerotomy is commonly enlarged by the majority of surgeons to allow for the use of a 20-gauge fragmatome. Kiss and Vavvas [5] reported a small series of 6 patients who were treated with 25-gauge PPV for dislocated lens fragments and found that this minimally invasive approach was unable to remove dropped nuclear material in 50% of cases; in these cases, the completion of fragment removal required a 20-gauge phacofragmatome. Barthelmes et al. [11] combined the 23-gauge PPV system with an intravitreal fragmatome to remove dense retained nuclei.
However, it has been hypothesized that intravitreal fragmatome use increases the risk of retinal break formation and worsens outcomes [4] .
Based on our clinical experiences, we found it hard to cut the particular dense lens material by the vitreous cutter alone without bimanual cooperation. When the lens material was extremely hard, it was difficult to be suctioned into the vitreous cutter without help. At the meantime, if the lens material was too big for the cutter to grasp, it was also difficult to be guided into the cutter, only when it was disassembled into smaller pieces. Thus, the bimanual technique we described utilized the 23-gauge cutter as a phaco tip to aspirate the lens material and utilized the light pipe as a prechopper to aid the cutting of the lens fragments into smaller pieces. We also followed the basic ideas and surgical techniques of traditional cataract surgery, using both the “stop-and- chop” and “divide-and-conquer” techniques.
This bimanual cooperation avoided the need to open the conjunctiva and enlarge a sclerotomy, the risk of thermal damage to the sclerotomy sites during fragmentation and the potential problem of inflow/outflow mismatch associated with the larger-bore fragmatomes combined with small-gauge infusion lines.
In 22 cases (73.33%), dense nuclear pieces obstructed the vitreous cutter, but these obstructions were easily removed via the manual injection of a balanced salt solution into the cutter.
Postoperative complications were rare and involved no occurrences of retinal detachment, hypotonia, endophthalmitis and choroidal detachment. Only 2 patients (6.67%) developed postoperative CME, and 1 patient (3.33%) exhibited a postoperative IOP greater than 30 mmHg on the first postoperative day.
Therefore, this report demonstrated that patients with particular dense lens material could achieve good outcomes when managed with the optimization of the cutter duty cycle, a strong vacuum and a low cut rate combined with our bimanual technique.
5. Conclusion
This study was as far the first clinical trial using such bimanual technique for the removal of particular dense posteriorly dislocated crystalline lenses. Our bimanual technique was proved to be an effective and safe method for those particular dense lenses using 23-gauge alone without the help of intravitreal fragmatome. Apart from the obvious strength of smaller incisions and fewer complications, it is extremely meaningful for those medical institutions where intravitreal fragmatome facilities are out of hand. However, it has several limitations as follows: small sample size, criteria for surgical procedures, and surgeon-dependent techniques. Further studies with large sample size conducted with various surgeons are needed.