Small gas bubble tamponade in retinal detachment surgery. version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of the effect of small gas bubble tamponade in patients who undergo surgery for macular involved retinal detachment: a prospective non-randomised cohort control study.
IRAS ID
178547
Contact name
Alistair Laidlaw
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Guy' s and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Symptoms of distorted vision are prevalent following vitrectomy and gas repairs of a retinal detachment. It has been usual practice to fill the eye with as near a total fill of gas as is possible at the time of surgery.
It has been found on auto-fluorescent scanning of the macular structure following retinal detachment surgery that any shift of the retina tends to occur in a gravitationally dependent direction. From this a hypothesis has been raised that trapped subretinal fluid is denser than the specific gravity of the gas in front of the retina and results in a gravitationally dependent pull of the retina.
The shift of the retina results in distorted vision which lasts longterm.
An alternative option to post operative posturing is to employ a very small bubble of gas. The aim of the gas bubble is to support the retinal break against the retinal pigment epithelium.
The benefit in terms of this study of using a small bubble of gas is that the rate of absorption of subretinal fluid can be studied and secondly, the effect of gravity upon post operative macular positioning can be investigated.
The aims of this study are therefore to investigate the prevalence and extent of macular shift, which is observed in patients with a macular involved retinal detachment in whom a small bubble gas tamponade is employed. The secondary aim is to investigate the rate of absorption of subretinal fluid in these patients.
The characteristics of subretinal fluid are identified by optical coherence tomography imaging (OCT) which is a non invasive imaging technique of the fundus of the eye. An image of the macula will be obtained before the operation, 4 hours after the operation and the next day of the operation. All these steps are part of the standard care for the patients.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1791
Date of REC Opinion
4 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion