Unintentional retinal artery amputation during macular peeling.

Objective

To report a case of unintentional retina artery amputation during macular peeling.

Methods

Observational case report

Results

A 73-year-old female underwent surgery to treat epiretinal membrane (ERM) associated with severe staphyloma in her left eye. While the ERM/posterior hyaloid membrane visually enhanced with triamcinolone (TA) was peeled, a movement of the forceps unintentionally involved the inferior temporal branch artery near the inner edge of the staphyloma. The artery was avulsed and amputated. Oozing from the retinal cleft that had once enfolded the artery and microscopic bleeding from the amputation stump were observed. The vitreous hemorrhage obscured a view of the fundus more than 4 weeks after the surgery. After 8 weeks, postoperative visual acuity was improved; however, the superior nasal visual field was lost, and the patient was aware of the broken vessel as a floater in her vision.

Conclusions

Macular peeling is technically challenging, so meticulous attention must be paid to avoid any damage on vessels. The retina tissue was stretched in a staphyloma and vessels were bulged into the vitreous space especially at the inner edge of the staphyloma. High levels of TA dye here buried the texture of the retina. Excessive TA should be removed prior to macular peeling.