Incidence of tears and retinal detachments after macular surgery according to the depression of the vitrectomy cutter

Purpose To study the incidence of tears and rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RD) after macular surgery, according to the vacuum settings during vitrectomy. Methods Comparative retrospective study of rhegmatogenous complications occurring during and after vitrectomy between 2 groups of consecutive patients. Group G400, included 1432 eyes vitrectomized with a maximum flow set at 4 ml / min and a maximum vacuum at 400 mm Hg. Group G230 included 434 eyes operated with the same flow rate with vacuum limited at 230 mm Hg. All patients were operated between November 2000 and June 2010, by two experienced surgeons. Results The incidence of tears observed during surgery was 5.1 % for G400, versus 3 % for G230 (p = 0.01). The incidence of postoperative RD was 3.2 % for G400, versus 1.2 % for G230 (p = 0.02). The mean duration before the occurrence of RD was 73.3 + 98.5 days in G400, versus 21.6 + 16.3 days in G230 (p = 0.004). Conclusion The incidence of tears observed during surgery was 5.1 % for G400, versus 3 % for G230 (p = 0.01). The incidence of postoperative RD was 3.2 % for G400, versus 1.2 % for G230 (p = 0.02). The mean duration before the occurrence of RD was 73.3 + 98.5 days in G400, versus 21.6 + 16.3 days in G230 (p = 0.004).