Experimental studies with perfluoro-octane for hemostasis during vitreoretinal surgery.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of perfluoro-octane on coagulation studies and on intraoperative hemostasis during vitreoretinal surgery in an animal model. In vitro study--comparison of coagulation profiles (bleeding time, whole blood clotting time, partial thromboplastin time, and one-stage prothrombin time) of blood taken from healthy volunteers with and without the addition of perfluoro-octane. In vivo study--comparison of times taken to achieve hemostasis in a rabbit model with large retinal arterial bleeding in vitrectomized and aphakic eyes with and without intraocular injection of perfluoro-octane. In vitro study--perfluoro-octane had no significant effect on coagulation profiles. In vivo study--intraocular perfluoro-octane significantly reduced the time to achieve hemostasis (P < 0.01) at all infusion bottle heights in vitrectomized and aphakic rabbit eyes. Perfluoro-octane may be used to control bleeding during vitreoretinal surgery. A direct effect on the clotting cascade could not be demonstrated.