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THINKING OF BUYING ...
1 cut per press of the foot-pedal, and retina surgery could take hours.
Now, though, they're able to make thousands of cuts per minute, and
surgeries can clock in at 35 to 40 minutes. In expert hands, faster cutting is not only more efficient, but more accurate.
• Balance is critical. The removal of vitreous tissue requires replacement with fluid to support the ocular structure. Otherwise the underinflated eye will collapse, risking retina and blood vessel tears. That's why
precisely controllable fluidics — irrigation into and aspiration from the
eye — is an important feature. In older models, fluidics relied on an IVpole-mounted bottle of balanced salt solution and gravity. However,
compressed gases and pressurized tubing offer greater control.
There are 2 types of fluidics pumps: venturi and peristaltic. Retina
surgery employs venturi, while cataract surgery uses both. Some
manufacturers have built both types into their vitrectomy machines,
effectively letting them (after a few adjustments) pull double duty as
phaco machines. If you're looking to upgrade your cataract services
while also adding retina, a dual anterior-posterior platform could
save money and OR space.
Business arrangements
In large part, the selection of a vitrectomy platform comes down to
surgeon preference. Which one have they used primarily in hospital
ORs? Which are they most comfortable with?
As an administrator, though, you're looking to make the best deal
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M A R C H 2013
