17 Copyright © 2017 Via Medica, ISSN 2450–7873 orIgINal paper DoI: 10.5603/oJ.2017.0005 Corresponding author: Dorota Borowicz, Department of general ophthalmology, Medical University in lublin, Chmielna 1 St., 20–079 lublin, poland, e-mail: dorotajjj2@wp.pl Outcomes of vitrectomy in severe complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy dorota Borowicz, dominika nowakowska, edyta Koman, Katarzyna nowomiejska, robert rejdak Department of General Ophthalmology, Medical University in Lublin, Lublin, Poland aBstraCt introduCtion. Te aim of our study is to describe the anatomical and functional results of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) among diabetic patients treated due to tractional retinal detachment (TRD) or non-clearing vitreous haemor- rhage (VH). MateriaLs and Methods. A retrospective analysis was made of clinical data of 45 eyes treated with 23G PPV for TRD (17 eyes) or VH (28 eyes). Preoperative and fnal visual outcomes and postoperative complications were recorded. Te mean follow-up period was 12 months. resuLts. Te postoperative visual acuity (VA) improved signifcantly in 60% of eyes, but remained unchanged or was worse in 40%. Improvement of VA was more pronounced in the VH group. PPV was performed with silicone oil tamponade in 66.5%, air tamponade in 29%, and gas tamponade in 4.5%. Postoperative complications included: retinal re-detachment (seven eyes), secondary glaucoma (nine eyes), and recurrent VH (two eyes). ConCLusions. PPV is an efective treatment method of complications of severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy inter alia the TRD and VH. Because surgical management of TRD and VH is demanding, anatomical and functional results are limited by complications. KeY Words: proliferative diabetic retinopathy, vitreous haemorrhage, tractional retinal detachment, vitrectomy Ophthalmol J 2017; Vol. 2, No. 1, 17–21 introduCtion Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic meta- bolic disease wherein the frequency of morbidi- ty increases. Te common complications of severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) include vitreous haemorrhage (VH), as well as tractional retinal detachment (TRD). Both are indications for vitreoretinal surgery [1]. Te concept of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) began in 1971 by Machemer [2] and was frst in- troduced with 20 G instrumentation in 1972 by O’Malley and Heintz [3]. Since then, the surgical instrumentation has been permanently improved. In 2005, Eckardt developed the 23 G instrumen- tation [4]. Vitrectomy instruments are now avail- able also in 25 and 27 gauge, which are better for navigation. Te cutting speeds are increasing (up to 7500-8000 cuts per minute), which allows extreme- ly precise cutting. Te combination of high cutting speeds and small gauge instruments allows success- ful surgery in severe complications of PDR. PPV gives the possibility of removal of the fbrovascular tissue and blood from the vitreous cavity [5, 6]. However, there is a risk of surgically induced com- plications, such as bleeding and VH, iatrogenic ret- inal breaks, recurrent RD, and glaucoma. Tis article describes the evaluation of the results and complication rates among diabetic patients treated with PPV due to TRD or VH. MateriaLs and Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 45 eyes of 41 patients with PDR, who underwent surgery for the complications of PDR, TRD, or VH, in the Department of General Ophthalmology of Medical University of Lublin in Poland. Te surgeries were con- ducted between January 2012 and December 2015.