Comparison of 27-gauge beveled-tip and 25-gauge flat-tip microincision vitrectomy surgery in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To compare the effectiveness and safety of a 27-gauge (27G) beveled-tip microincision vitrectomy surgery (MIVS) with a 25-gauge (25G) flat-tip MIVS for the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods A prospective, single-masked, randomized, controlled clinical trial included 52 eyes (52 patients) with PDR requiring proliferative membrane removal. They were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo the 27G beveled-tip and or 25G flat-tip MIVS (the 27G group and the 25G group, respectively). During surgery, the productivity of cutting the membrane, the number of vitrectomy probe (VP) exchanges to microforceps, total operation time, vitrectomy time and intraoperative complications were measured. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP) and postoperative complications were also assessed to month 6. Results Forty-seven eyes (47 patients) completed the follow-up, including 25 in the 27G group and 22 in the 25G group. During surgery in the 27G group, cutting the membrane was more efficient (P = 0.001), and the number of VP exchanges to microforceps was lower (P = 0.026). The occurrences of intraoperative hemorrhages and electrocoagulation also decreased significantly (P = 0.004 and P = 0.022). There were no statistical differences in the total operation time or vitrectomy time between the two groups (P = 0.275 and P = 0.372), but the former was slightly lower in the 27G group. Additionally, the 27G group required fewer wound sutures (P = 0.044). All the follow-up results revealed no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions Compared with the 25G flat-tip MIVS, the 27G beveled-tip MIVS could be more efficient in removing the proliferative membrane while reducing the occurrence of intraoperative hemorrhages and electrocoagulation using appropriate surgical techniques and instrument parameters. Its vitreous removal performance was not inferior to that of the 25G MIVS and might offer potential advantages in total operation time. In terms of patient outcomes, advanced MIVS demonstrates equal effectiveness and safety to 25G flat-tip MIVS. Trial registration The clinical trial has been registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT0544694) on 07/07/2022. And all patients in the article were enrolled after registration.