This video describes the basic principles of PFCL use in retinal detachment surgery.
Video created by Dr. Anfisa Ayalon
Surgical technique: Dr. Alexander Rubowitz, Israel
Part 1. Perfluorocarbon liquid in retinal detachment surgeries
How to inject?
Perfluorocarbon is a synthetic, colorless liquid, with a gravity of about 2 times greater than water solution.
In retinal detachment surgeries it is used to:
-Stabilize and to reattach the retina during the surgery
-Assist the drainage of subretinal fluid
-As a short-term endotamponade in devastating cases
Important tips:
-Start to inject above the optic nerve head or nasally to it
-Make sure that all tractions on the retina were relieved
-Make one big bubble of PFCL (stay as close as you can to the retina, inject slowly, stay in the center of the bubble during injection)
-Inject very cautiously close to the level of the retinal breaks or over them
This video describes the technique of PFCL removal.
Video created by Dr. Anfisa Ayalon
Surgical technique: Dr. Alexander Rubowitz & Dr. Itzhak Hemo, Israel
Part 2. Perfluorocarbon liquid in retinal detachment surgeries
How to remove?
Important to ensure the proper removal of PFCL at the end of the case (Retained PFCL may be destructive to the corneal endothelium and cause an IOP rise when migrated to the anterior chamber).
A flute (Back Flush) needle either with a passive or active vacuum can be used.
Important tips:
- Stay with a tip of the cannula inside the PFCL bubble above the optic nerve head or nasally to it (“safe zone” for manipulations)
-Perform wash out with BSS solution after removal of the visible portion of heavy liquid (one of the techniques to make sure that none of the small, hardly visible PFCL bubbles were left in the eye)
This video describes the principles of perfluorocarbon liquid use in cases of retinal detachment repair and ERM/ILM peeling.
Video created by Dr. Anfisa Ayalon
Surgical technique: Dr. Alexander Rubowitz & Dr. Itzhak Hemo, Israel
Epiretinal and internal limiting membrane peeling under perfluorocarbon liquid
A mobile, detached retina may complicate ERM & ILM peeling.
PFCL can help to stabile the posterior pole.
Important tips ( especially for macular hole cases with associated retinal detachment):
- All tractions on the retina should be relieved before PFCL injection
- Do not pull the retina forward during the peeling to decrease the probability of PFCL shifting to the subretinal space