Postoperative complications of combined phacoemulsification and pars plana vitrectomy in diabetic retinopathy patients.
Macular edema occurred after combined surgery in 26% of proliferative diabetic retinopathy eyes.
Postoperative complications of combined phacoemulsification and pars plana vitrectomy in diabetic retinopathy patients.
To compare intra- and postoperative complications in combined phacoemulsification and pars plana vitrectomy surgeries performed in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy) vs. proliferative diabetic retinopathy (proliferative diabetic retinopathy).
Retrospective, case series of patients with diabetic retinopathy who underwent combined phacovitrectomy surgery between 2008 and 2017.
developed swelling in the eye’s central retina after the combined surgery
The most common indications for surgery in the non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy group were epiretinal membrane (67%) and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (12.5%), while in the proliferative diabetic retinopathy group, indications were vitreous hemorrhage (56%) and tractional retinal detachment (19%).
There were no statistically significant differences in intra- and postoperative complication rates between the non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy groups, even after adjusting for confounders; patient age at surgery and indication for surgery.
After combined phacovitrectomy in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients, new-onset macular edema was found in about a quarter of eyes in both groups.
Intraoperative anti-VEGF or steroid administration, and intense postoperative anti-inflammatory medication and follow-up should be regarded after phacovitrectomy regardless of the DR level.