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Sewing Needle Microcapsulotomy to avert Argentinian flag sign
Abstract
The Argentinian flag sign is a known complication in intumescent white cataracts, which arises instantly after an initial prick with a sharp hypodermic needle on a stretched out anterior capsule. Increased intralenticular pressure is believed to be responsible for propagation of the initial prick into a radial capsular tear. However, it is the 'linear cut' configuration of the initial prick, created by the hypodermic needle on the tense anterior capsule, which spontaneously opens up and propagates towards the periphery along its margins. To overcome this a novel instrument was devised, sewing needle microcapsulotome, to puncture the capsule and create a single or multiple round openings with smooth margins allowing the bag to decompress satisfactorily without yielding to disruptive intralenticular forces. This technique of sewing needle microcapsulotomy, to prevent Argentinian flag sign, was found to be highly effective and safe in a series of surgeries on intumescent cataracts.
... [6] Sewing needle capsulotomy is another technique for these intumescent cataracts that uses a special instrument to create initial small circular opening in the anterior capsule that allows the pressure to vent out, followed by completion of capsulorhexis. [7] Use of cohesive viscoelastic to maintain the anterior chamber has been followed in almost all the techniques. Newer capsulotomy devices using nano-pulse technology with nitinol ring and Capsulaser also have limited evidence of safety in white cataracts. ...
Capsulorhexis in white intumescent cataract is often associated with extension leading to radial tears or biradial extension "Argentinian flag sign" and associated complications. We describe a novel technique of managing this situation. Vacuum rhexis is performed with a 24 G bent cannula attached to a 10-ml syringe. The flap is lifted and then caught using 24 G cannula. The suction is manually controlled by the surgeon, and the rhexis is completed using circumferential movement. The chamber stability is well maintained as there is no leakage, and the bent tip gives excellent fulcrum for movement. The advantage of this technique is that a single port is used for maintaining the chamber stability and it needs no special surgical instruments. Vacuum rhexis is a novel surgical technique used for performing successful continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) of adequate size in white and intumescent cataracts, with a consistent and predictable outcome.
Purpose of review:
Successful anterior capsulotomy is an important step in cataract surgery. This article reviews the various anterior capsulotomy techniques available to surgeons to optimize the step, including those that have become available since the introduction of femtosecond-laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS). Studies comparing the relative advantages of each technique will be emphasized.
Recent findings:
Manual continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) and FLACS remain the two most widely studied techniques for achieving anterior capsulotomy. Each technique has been shown to be effective for a wide range of patients and cataract surgery complications. Meta-analyses have shown that FLACS provides similar results to manual CCC for long-term cataract surgery outcomes. Several alternative methods for anterior capsulotomy have been described, which aim to provide some of the advantages of laser capsulotomy at a lower cost; among these, precision pulse capsulotomy (PPC) and selective laser capsulotomy (SLC) have been investigated the most in the literature so far.
Summary:
Cataract surgeons have an increasing number of techniques for anterior capsulotomy available. Manual CCC and FLACS remain the most widely used, and most well studied. The latest techniques, PPC and SLC, have shown promise in the few studies performed since they were introduced.
In this communication, we describe a technique for creation of a single stage, adequately sized capsulorrhexis in intumescent cataracts by depressurizing the anterior and posterior intralenticular compartments in a nonleaky anterior chamber (AC) to prevent capsulorrhexis extension and Argentina flag sign. Initially, an incomplete main-port incision is made by the partial entry of a 2.2-mm keratome. A cohesive dispersive ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) is injected into AC. Standard side-port incisions are made, followed by anterior capsular staining. The fluid cortex in anterior intralenticular compartment is aspirated by puncturing anterior capsule in the center using a 30-gauge needle entered through a separate limbal stab incision. The nucleus edge is gently tipped posteriorly with the needle tip to release the fluid from posterior intralenticular compartment also and as much fluid aspirated as possible. OVD is again injected and capsulorrhexis is performed in a single stage using micro-capsulorrhexis forceps.
Purpose
To compare femtosecond laser-assisted capsulotomy with conventional manual capsulorhexis in cases of white cataract.
Patients and methods
The prospective comparative study enrolled 80 eyes (80 patients) with white cataract that underwent either femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (Group I, n=40) or conventional manual phacoemulsification (Group II, n=40) at a tertiary care ophthalmic institution. The groups were divided based on the patient’s choice and affordability of the procedure. Capsulotomy/capsulorhexis was evaluated in terms of size, circularity index (4Π [area/perimeter2]), intraocular lens coverage, and continuity. Each group was further subdivided based on the release of white milky fluid on initiation of the capsulotomy/capsulorhexis, and the “fluid” cases were compared with the “no-fluid” cases. The primary outcome measure was capsulotomy/capsulorhexis characteristics in the two groups. The secondary outcome measures were intraoperative phacoemulsification parameters, intraoperative complications, and postoperative visual acuity.
Results
The size of the capsulotomy/capsulorhexis was 4.9±0.1 mm in Group I and 5.3±0.4 mm in Group II (P<0.001). Mean circularity index was 0.996±0.003 and 0.909±0.047 in Groups I and II, respectively (P<0.001). In Group I, free-floating circular capsulotomies were obtained in 52.5% (21/40) eyes; 37.5% (15/40) eyes had microadhesions; and 10% (4/40) eyes had incomplete capsulotomy in 1–2 clock hours. The incidence of residual adhesions was more in cases with release of white milky fluid (P=0.003). In Group II, a multistep capsulorhexis was performed in 70% (28/40) of the eyes. There was no difference in terms of visual outcomes and intraoperative complications.
Conclusion
Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery has the advantage of creating a circular and optimally sized capsulotomy in cases of white cataract. The release of white milky fluid during femtosecond laser delivery is the most important factor affecting the creation of a free-floating capsulotomy.
To compare the intraoperative safety of two techniques of capsulorhexis for intumescent white cataracts: traditional one-stage continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and two-stage continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis.
This prospective comparative randomized study included two groups: the 1-CCC group (11 patients) received traditional one-stage continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis with 5-6 mm diameter, and the 2-CCC (13 patients) group received a deliberately small continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis that was secondarily enlarged, or a two-stage continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis. Patients were stratified according to cataract subset, which was characterized echographically. Six patients were considered as type 1, fifteen as type 2 and three as type 3. Type 1 included intumescent white cataracts with cortex liquefaction and extensive internal acoustic reflections, type 2 included white cataracts with voluminous nuclei, a small amount of whitish solid cortex, and minimal internal acoustic reflections, and type 3 included white cataracts with fibrous anterior capsules and few internal echo spikes.
With the one-stage technique, 46.15% of patients had leakage of the liquefied cortex; in addition, the surgeon perceived high intracapsular pressure in 61.53% of cases. Anterior capsule tears occurred in 23.07% of cases, discontinuity of capsulorhexis in 30.79% of cases and no posterior capsular rupture occurred. With the two-stage technique, leakage of the liquefied cortex occurred in 45.45% of cases; additionally, the surgeon perceived high intracapsular pressure in 36.36% of cases. No anterior capsule tears, discontinuity of capsulorhexis or posterior capsular rupture occurred. Considering each cataract subset, there was a higher incidence of leakage for type 2 as compared to types 1 and 3.
Two-stage continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis helps prevent unexpected radial tears of the initial capsulotomy from high intracapsular pressure, sudden radialization of the CCC and other intraoperative complications due to high intracapsular pressure, thus providing a safe cataract surgery in cases of white cataracts. These findings were supported by ultrasonography.
Aim: To compare the intraoperative difficulty and postoperative outcome in patients who have white mature cataract in one eye and other types of senile cataract in the other eye undergoing clear corneal phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation.
82 patients who had white mature cataract in one eye, posterior subcapsular, cortical, nuclear, or mixed type cataract in the other eye were enrolled in this prospective study. Postoperative outcomes, intraoperative difficulties related to capsulorhexis, and phacoemulsification were analysed between the two groups of eyes. Postoperative examinations were done at 1 day, 1 week, 1 and 3 months.
Postoperative visual acuity, central corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, and rate of posterior capsule rupture were not significantly different between the two group of eyes (p>0.05). Mean effective phaco time, frequency of postoperative corneal oedema and posterior capsular plaque were found to be significantly higher in the mature cataract group (p<0.05).
A one stage, 5 mm continuous capsulorhexis was achieved using trypan blue and generous amounts of retentive viscoelastic agent in eyes with white mature cataract. Intraoperative difficulties and postoperative outcome of clear corneal incision phacoemulsification surgery and foldable intraocular lens implantation were similar in white mature and other types of senile cataract. Topical anaesthesia in phacoemulsification of eyes with white mature cataract is safe and well tolerated.
To study the results of phacoemulsification cataract surgery complicated by anterior capsule tear.
Retrospective interventional controlled case series.
Consecutive series of eyes suffering intraoperative anterior capsule tear and undergone uneventful cataract surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital were investigated. Biometric, intraoperative and postoperative details were recorded. The exclusion criteria were combined surgical procedures, planned manual extracapsular cataract extraction, and history of previous intraocular surgery or eye trauma. The main outcome measures were intraoperative capsule complication rates, refractive and visual outcomes, and incidence of short-term postoperative complications. Two-sided Fisher exact and paired t-tests were used for categorical and continuous data, respectively.
The study and control groups included 239 and 212 eyes, respectively. In the study group, planned phacoemulsification was converted to manual extraction in 5 cases (2%), a concurrent posterior capsule rupture occurred in 58 eyes (24%) with a rate of nuclear lens material drop in the posterior segment of 5% (11 cases). Over 11% of eyes (27) underwent unplanned secondary surgical procedures. Overall, the refractive outcomes were poor in 22.4% of eyes (postoperative refraction ≥1 Diopter of target), and statistically worse (P<0.0001). A significant visual improvement was observed in the majority of the study group eyes (71%), permanent visual loss occurred in 4 eyes (1.7%).
Anterior capsule tear can lead to additional intraoperative complications, with a relatively high incidence of secondary interventions. Overall, permanent visual loss can be observed and worse refractive outcomes are to be expected, particularly if lens is being implanted out-of-the-bag.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
We describe a technique that prevents the Argentinean flag sign in white cataract. The technique is based on the intumescent cataract having 2 rather than 1 pressurized compartments within the crystalline lens, the anterior and the posterior. The pressure that pushes the nucleus upward, which is the movement responsible for a radial tear of the anterior capsule, does not come from the vitreous but from the posterior intralenticular pressurized compartment. We also present a nomenclature system to help the phacoemulsification surgeon distinguish the 3 types of senile white cataracts and prevent intrasurgical complications peculiar to each one.
The development of the continuous circular capsulorhexis (CCC) technique has contributed significantly to the safety and effectiveness of cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. This technique facilitates every size of smooth, circular, capsular opening, and it produces a strong capsular rim that resists tearing even when stretched during lens material removal or lens implantation. Maintaining the general integrity of the eye and facilitating such procedures as hydrodissection, endolenticular phacoemulsification, capsule polishing, and safe lens implantation in both adults and children are some of the advantages of CCC. This procedure can be performed in several ways, and it has been proven to be consistently reproducible by experienced surgeons.
The continuous tear anterior capsulotomy or capsulorhexis technique is important for safe, successful cataract extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation surgery. A two-stage continuous tear capsulotomy or capsulorhexis extends the possibility of achieving continuous tear capsulotomy to challenging and complicated cases. In endocapsular phacoemulsification this technique preserves the integrity of the capsule because it prevents the extension of radial tears in the capsule and thus facilitates safe cataract extraction and secure in-the-bag IOL placement. The benefits and advantages of the continuous tear capsulotomy are preserved by two-stage capsulorhexis.
Phacomorphic glaucoma is a common condition in developing countries. Extracapsular cataract extraction with a sulcus-fixated intraocular lens (IOL) is associated with increased intraoperative and postoperative complications in this condition. We developed a technique that allows a safe, controlled capsulorhexis in the presence of the shallow anterior chamber, increased anterior capsule convexity, and high intralenticular pressure seen in eyes with phacomorphic glaucoma. The intumescent cataracts are decompressed by filling the anterior chamber with viscoelastic; a 30 gauge needle is then used to aspirate liquid cortex, which facilitates a controlled capsulorhexis. This allows safe phacoemulsification of the cataract and in-the-bag IOL implantation.
To evaluate the safety of phacoemulsification of white hypermature cataract, which is common in developing countries.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
In a teaching hospital setting, a prospective evaluation of phacoemulsification in 25 eyes of 25 consecutive patients with hypermature cataract was done. Patients with good pupil dilation, optimal endothelial cell count, and disease-free ocular and systemic status were included. High magnification, sodium hyaluronate, and a Utrata capsulorhexis forceps were used to perform continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC). The stop and chop technique was used for nuclear emulsification. A 5.5 mm optic allpoly(methyl methacrylate) intraocular lens (IOL) was implanted, and wound closure was sutureless.
Successful CCC was performed in 23 of 25 cases. In 2 cases, the CCC edge extended toward the periphery and a Vannas scissors was used to achieve an even cut. No complications were seen during nuclear emulsification and IOL implantation. Eighty percent of the patients had a visual acuity of 20/40 or better on the first postoperative day. Five patients had significant corneal edema that resolved within 1 week in all cases.
Phacoemulsification was successfully and safely performed in appropriately selected patients with white hypermature cataract.