Effect of arteriovenous sheathotomy on retinal blood flow and macular edema in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Abstract

To determine the effect of arteriovenous sheathotomy on retinal blood flow (RBF) in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Interventional case series. Seven eyes of 7 patients with BRVO underwent sheathotomy and were followed for more than 6 months. At 1 week postoperatively, the RBF in the affected vessels was significantly improved from 14.1 +/- 5.7 to 27.3 +/- 11.3 pixel(2)/sec (P < 0.01), and the foveal thickness (FT) was significantly reduced from 536 +/- 84 to 366 +/- 134 microm (P = 0.03). However, the RBF was reduced again to 11.7 +/- 7.7 pixel(2)/sec at 1 month postoperatively, and the FT was increased to 424 +/- 184 microm. Arteriovenous sheathotomy led to a transient improvement of the RBF and was effective in reducing macular edema. It is not clear whether the transient effect of sheathotomy affects the long-term visual acuity and macular edema.