Ultrasonic fragmentation for removing thick organized clots during diabetic vitrectomy – A novel technique

Abstract

A 65-year-old male with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and non-clearing vitreous hemorrhage underwent 25G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). A large disk of thick organized blood of 5 disk diameter (DD) size was encountered in subhyaloid space. All attempts including lower cut rates to remove this disk using a 25G cutter turned futile. We used a 20G fragmatome to safely remove this hard clot from vitreous cavity in 50 s. Surgical time for removal of similar clot of 3 DD by 25G cutter in another eye was 5 min. Removal of thick clotted subhyaloid blood by ultrasonic fragmentation during diabetic vitrectomy is a safe, faster, and useful maneuver.

Keywords

• clotted disk
• phacofragmentation
• proliferative diabetic retinopathy
• subhyaloid hemorrhage
• vitreous hemorrhage