Effect of Irrigation Solution Temperature on the Corneal Endothelial Functions in Posterior Vitrectomy: Room Temperature Versus Cooled

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the effects of cooled and room temperature irrigation on the preoperative and early postoperative corneal endothelial parameter values in posterior vitrectomy. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, randomized, comparative study, 68 patients underwent a standard 3-port, 23-G posterior vitrectomy operation by a single surgeon. Cooled irrigation solution was applied to 36 patients during surgery (group 1), and room temperature irrigation solution was applied to 32 patients (group 2). The patients were also divided into four groups according to their history of noncomplicated cataract surgery (phakic or pseudophakic) and the types of tamponade used (silicone or gas). The central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell density (ECD), mean cell area (MCA), hexagonal cell percent, and coefficient of variation of cell area (CV) parameter values of the groups at preoperative and postoperative 1 month were compared. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the preoperative and postoperative corneal parameter values in groups 1 and 2 (P>0.05). However, it was remarkable that the percentage of preoperative–postoperative change in all the corneal parameter values was higher in group 2. When the results of the subgroup analyses of the patients who were pseudophakic and used gas tamponade (Group D) in group 2 were examined, it was determined that the negative effects were significantly higher in the postoperative values for the ECD, MCA, CV, and CCT parameters compared with the preoperative values (P<0.05). Conclusion: In patients with pseudophakia and gas tamponade, cooled irrigation was found to be more advantageous for corneal parameters.