Implementation of pneumatic retinopexy in the Japanese population.

Purpose: To propose an implementation model for pneumatic retinopexy (PnR) in a region where PnR is performed infrequently, and to assess its impact on treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Study design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: We reviewed 222 consecutive eyes with primary RRD treated from July 2017 to September 2023 at a tertiary care center in Japan. The treatment methods utilized included pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), scleral buckling (SB) and PnR. The surgeon learned PnR through social media. Primary anatomic reattachment rate (PARR) and visual acuity outcomes were compared between the pre-PnR (prior to the implementation; 110 eyes) and post-PnR (after the implementation; 112 eyes) periods, as well as between PnR and PPV in the post-PnR period. PARR for PnR was also evaluated based on RRD characteristics and gas injection frequency.

Results: In the post-PnR period PnR was performed in 53.6% (60/112)of cases. The PARR was similar in the pre-PnR (97.3%) and post-PnR (93.8%) periods (P=.33). Visual outcomes were similar both across periods and between PnR and PPV at 3, 6 and 12 month post-operatively. The PARR for PnR was 88.3% overall, 90.5% in eyes meeting the Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Outcomes Randomized Trial (PIVOT) criteria, 93.3% in eyes with a single break and 100% in eyes with a single break meeting PIVOT criteria. Eyes with a single gas injection had higher PARR than eyes requiring an additional gas injection (93.5% vs. 71.4%).

Conclusion: Remote-learning utilizing social media effectively enabled PnR implementation with favorable anatomic and functional outcomes in a real-world setting in Japan.