Reducing the incidence of early postoperative vitreous haemorrhage by preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab in vitrectomy for diabetic tractional retinal detachment

Acta Ophthalmol. 2010: 88: 635–640 Abstract. Purpose:  This study aimed to evaluate whether preoperative intravitreal injection of bevacizumab reduces early postoperative vitreous haemorrhage (VH) in vitrectomy for diabetic tractional retinal detachment. Methods:  We conducted a retrospective chart review of a consecutive, interventional case series. This included 29 eyes (27 patients) in the bevacizumab group and 40 eyes (37 patients) in the non-bevacizumab group. For statistical analysis, each patient was assigned to one of four groups according to the haemostatic modalities used (group 1, none; group 2, only long-acting gas; group 3, only preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab; group 4, both long-acting gas and preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab). The primary outcome measure was the incidence of early postoperative VH. The secondary outcome measure was visual acuity (VA) at 1 month. Results:  The incidence of early postoperative VH was highest in group 1 (63%), followed by group 2 (21%), group 3 (20%) and group 4 (5%). Group 3 showed the best visual recovery in the first month. All eyes in group 3 reached VA ≥ 1/100 at 1 month after the operation, compared with 44%, 29% and 42% in groups 1, 2 and 4, respectively. Conclusions:  Preoperative intravitreal injection of bevacizumab may be useful for reducing early postoperative VH in vitrectomy for diabetic tractional retinal detachment. Eyes receiving preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab without the use of long-acting gas achieved the best visual recovery at 1 month after the operation.