Anatomic results and complications in a long-term follow-up of pneumatic retinopexy cases

Background: The use of pneumatic retinopexy is controversial because 1) intraocular gas could increase the risk of proliferate vitreoretinopathy and 2) it has been reported to achieve low rates of success after a single procedure. Methods: A total of 219 consecutive cases of SF, pneumatic retinopexy were reviewed retrospectively. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 5 years. Results: A total of 179 (81.73%) of 219 eyes were treated successfully with a single procedure. The success rate increased with reoperations to 98.89%. Preoperative factors related to primary failure or redetachment were aphakia or pseudophakia (P = 0.0058) and breaks localized on horizontal meridia (P = 0.0305). Cryopexy was significantly associated with failure (P = 0.0007). A total of 31.05% of eyes showed early complications. The most frequent incidence was delay in subretinal fluid reabsorption (36.76%), followed by new breaks (26.47%). Late complications were observed in 6.84% of the eyes (six eyes with macular pucker, three with new retinal detachments, three with cataracts, and three with new breaks without detachment). Conclusions: Failures of pneumatic retinopexy were related to lens status, localization of the break, and cryopexy. The occurrence of early and late complications was similar to that in other procedures.