TRANSRETINAL PUNCTURE WITH A 41G CANNULA FOR POSTERIOR RESIDUAL SUBRETINAL FLUID IN FOVEA-OFF RETINAL DETACHMENTS TREATED BY VITRECTOMY VS FLUID TOLERANCE VS OTHER CONVENTIONAL DRAINAGE TECHNIQUES: A Comparative Study.

Abstract

To compare functional and anatomical outcomes between posterior drainage of residual fluid using a 41G cannula, fluid tolerance (residual subretinal fluid), and conventional complete drainage methods, including removal through peripheral retinal breaks, perfluorocarbon liquid, and posterior retinotomy. In this retrospective, multicenter study, we evaluated cases for visual acuity at 3 months of follow-up. Secondary outcomes included surgical success, postoperative metamorphopsia, shifts, full-thickness folds, optical coherence tomography parameters, and safety. Subgroup analyses were also conducted. Visual acuity did not differ significantly between the three main groups. Subgroup analyses revealed worse visual acuity for posterior retinotomy (20/270 in Snellen conversion, P = 0.002), with significantly more Grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy (40.0%, P = 0.003). Residual subretinal fluid tended to offer better secondary outcomes, without statistical significance except for postoperative epiretinal membrane (30.8%, P = 0.041). Subgroup analyses found significantly more shifts with PFCL (91.7%, P = 0.036). No cases of postoperative full-thickness folds or macular holes were observed with the 41G. Our study introduced the 41G technique, indicating favorable outcomes for fovea-off retinal detachments. Nevertheless, fluid tolerance appeared to be the best option, offering a cost-effective and faster method, with an optimal microstructural profile and visual acuity comparable with that of complete drainage techniques.