FLUID-FLUID EXCHANGE AND EXTERNAL NEEDLE DRAINAGE WITH MINIMAL GAS VITRECTOMY ASSOCIATED WITH RETINAL DISPLACEMENT.

Purpose: To determine whether fluid-fluid exchange (endodrainage) or external needle drainage can result in retinal displacement following minimal gas vitrectomy (MGV) with no fluid-air exchange for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment repair.

Methods: Two patients with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment underwent MGV with and without segmental buckle. First case had MGV with segmental buckle (MGV-SB), along with endodrainage, whereas the second case had MGV only with external fluid drainage. At the completion of surgery, the patient was immediately log rolled to face down for 6 hours followed by positioning to the break.

Results: Both patients achieved retinal reattachment, and postoperative widefield fundus autofluorescence imaging demonstrated a low-integrity retinal attachment with retinal displacement.

Conclusion: Iatrogenic fluid drainage techniques, such as fluid-fluid exchange or external needle drainage during MGV (without fluid-air exchange), may result in retinal displacement. Allowing the retinal pigment epithelial pump to reabsorb the fluid naturally may reduce the risk of retinal displacement.