Pediatric Pneumatic Retinopexy

In this surgical video, Drs. Rajeev Muni, Luis Escaf, Wei Wei Lee and Aditya Bansal present a case of a macula-split retinal detachment associated with a 4-clock hour superior-nasal dialysis in a 16-year-old boy with a history of recent trauma and no posterior vitreous detachment. Although often not considered an option in pediatric retinal detachment, pneumatic retinopexy is a highly effective and minimally invasive technique in children meeting PIVOT trial criteria. The strong RPE pump, the formed vitreous (which can tamponade the break after gas injection) and the often very compliant positioning with a parent involved lead to excellent success rates, with rapid reattachment while minimizing morbidity. Pneumatic retinopexy should not be overlooked as a potential treatment option for pediatric retinal detachments that meet PIVOT trial criteria. Thus far, Dr. Muni and colleagues have had experience using this procedure in children older than 9 years.

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