Title | Robot assisted retinal vein cannulation in an in vivo porcine retinal vein occlusion model. |
Abstract Nr. | 1053 |
Purpose | To evaluate the feasibility of robot assisted retinal vein cannulation for retinal vein occlusion. |
Methods | Prospective experimental study performed in in vivo porcine eyes. A standard three port pars plana vitrectomy was followed by laser induced branch retinal vein occlusion. Consequently, a retinal vein cannulation with the help of a surgical robot and a micro-needle was performed. Complete success was defined as a stable intravenous position of the needle tip confirmed by blood washout for at least 3 minutes. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of intraoperative complications and technical failures. |
Results | Cannulation was successful in 15 out of 18 eyes with a complete success rate (duration of infusion of more than 3 minutes) of 73,3% after exclusion of 2 eyes from analysis due to failure in establishing a blood clot. There were no technical failures regarding the robotic device. The intravessel injections of ocriplasmin in 2 out of 2 eyes led to a clot dissolution. In a subset of 5 eyes, a second cannulation attempt at the border of the optic disc resulted in a stable intravessel position and infusion during 361,8 (±138,45) seconds. |
Conclusion | Robot assisted retinal vein cannulation with prolonged infusion time is technically feasible. Human experiments are required to analyze the clinical benefit of this new therapy. |
Conflict of interest | Yes |
Details of conflicting interests | Thrombogenics: grant support |
Last name | STALMANS |
Initials | P |
Department | UZLeuven |
Last name | Gijbels |
Initials | A |
Department | KULeuven |
Last name | Schoevaerdts |
Initials | L |
Department | KULeuven |
Last name | Esteveny |
Initials | L |
Department | KULeuven |
Last name | Reynaerts |
Initials | D |
Department | KULeuven |
Last name | Vander Poorten |
Initials | E |
Department | KULeuven |
Last name | Willekens |
Initials | K |
Department | UZLeuven |