Comparison of Two Port and Three Port Technique of Silicone Oil Removal

Abstract

Purpose: This study was conducted to see which technique is better to remove the silicone oil. Study Design: It was a prospective study conducted in ophthalmology departments of Mayo hospital, KEMU Lahore and Allied hospital, Punjab medical collegeFaisalabad from January 2012 to July 2012 at the same time. Materials and methods: Total fifty patients were included in this study who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy with silicone oil endotamponade more than three months ago. These patients were divided into two main groups; A and B each group comprising of twenty five patients. In group silicone oil was removed by using three port technique and in group B by two port technique. All patients were examined on the operation table and on first postoperative day. Results: In group A, all patients had attached retina, no silicone bubble seen in vitreous cavity. Conjunctival inflammation was slightly more but in the vitreous cavity there were few microdroplets of silicone oil. In group B all patients had attached retina, less conjunctival inflammation but slightly more microdroplets of silicone oil in the vitreous cavity. Two patients (8%) had a part of silicone oil remaining behind in the vitreous cavity. So we had to operate again these patients to remove the last bubble of silicone oil. Conclusion: Although three-port technique is relatively more traumatic to the patients but overall it is a better technique because even the last bubble of silicone oil can be visualized and removed under direct vision. Furthermore, if needed, other surgical procedures can be performed like endolaser or membrane peeling so the chances of postoperative complications like retinal re-detachment can be minimized.