Short-Term Total Tamponade with Perfluorocarbon Liquid and Silicone Oil in Complex Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment with Severe Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy

BACKGROUND: To evaluate retinal reattachment, visual functional results, and complications rates after total tamponade (TT) with perfluorocarbon liquid (PFCL) and silicone oil (SO) for 2 days followed by PFCL-SO exchange in complex retinal detachment (RD). METHODS: Retrospective study including 52 consecutive eyes with complex RD and advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy, who underwent vitrectomy with TT. Patients underwent first surgery by 25-Gauge vitrectomy and partial PFCL-SO exchange (approximately 60% PFCL 40% SO fill) followed by second surgery with extraction of the PFCL and complete SO fill. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 25.15 ± 6.6 months, the retina remained reattached in 48/52 eyes (92.3%) including 28 eyes (58.3%) without SO and 20 eyes (41.7%) with prolonged SO tamponade. Visual acuity improved in 45 eyes (86.6%) (P<0.001), remained stable in 4 eyes (7.7%) and decreased in 3 eyes (5.7%). Complications consisted in mild anterior chamber inflammation in 10 eyes, ocular hypertension in 12 eyes, and cataract in 10 eyes. CONCLUSION: Two-day TT with PFCL and SO may be considered in complex RD with advanced proliferative vitreoretinopathy especially in monocular patients. Further studies with longer follow-up period and retinal electrophysiologic assessment may be needed.