Título / Title

REINFORCED INFUSION FOR SILICON OIL INJECTION

Introdução / Purpose

The Visco Fluid Infusion (VFI) is designed for the injection of highly silicon viscous fluids such as silicone oil in ophthalmic surgery. Generally VFI is a disposable accessory not included on regular standard posterior vitrectomy pack kits from industry. For this reason, sometimes is difficult for the surgeon to have disposables accessories available on public health system, especially in Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) of Brazil.

Material e Método / Methods

The convencional Alcon (Fort Worth, Texas, USA) 23 gauge fluid infusion consist of two silicone tubes connected, the distal tube with lower diameter was removed with the connector and the proximal tube was preserved, finally the metallic tip was reconnected. Two autoclaved nylon clamps, with 100mm length and 2.5 mm width, were fit and cut off at the ends. Firstly, the convencional fluid infusion was adjusted to silicone oil seringue and tested with Visco Fluid Control (VFC) system of Constelation equipment from Alcon. Afterwards the reinforced infusion was tested the same way.

Resultados / Results

The high pressure of 1000 centistokes (cS) silicon oil resulted in ejection of the metallic tip from the convencional infusion line at 64psi. The conversion of conventional infusion to VFI infusion last less than 2 minutes. The reinforced infusion endured the higher pressure of the 1000 cS and 5000 cS silicone oil under maximum VFC 80psi, without any leakage or complication.

Discussão e Conclusões / Conclusion

The convencional infusion line is not appropriate for silicone oil injection but the reinforcement with nylon clamps was enough to stand high pressure of VFI with success. These is a simple, fast and cheap method useful for infusion of silicon oil during vitreo-retinal surgery, especially under direct PFC- Silicone oil exchange.

The conversion of convencional posterior vitrectomy line fluid infusion into a VFI infusion line was effective. The tradicional VFI line accessory remains the utmost in safety and reliability, especially for 5000cs silicon oil.

Palavras Chave

Silicone Oil
Vitrectomy
Infusion

Area

SURGICAL RETINA