Surgical timing of severe infectious endophthalmitis

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and surgical timing of vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade for severe infectious endophthalmitis. Methods Sixty-two patients (62 eyes)with endophthalmitis, diagnosed by the examinations of the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),intraocular pressure, slit-lamp microscopy, direct and (or) indirect ophthalmoscopy and ocular B-ultrasound. There are 44, 17 and 1 eyes with posttraumatic, postoperative and endogenous infectious endophthalmitis, respectively. The patients were randomly divided into the group A (32 eyes) and B (30eyes). The former was treated immediately by vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade after diagnosis, while the latter was treated by the same surgery after drug treatment depended on patients'choice. Vitreous purulence was taken in all patients before vitrectomy for bacterial, fungal culture and drug sensitivity test. 19/62 (30.65%) vitreous samples were positive for culture. The follow-up was ranged from 6 to 26 months. The visual acuity, intraocular pressure and eye retention situation before and after surgery were comparatively analyzed. Results In group A, endophthalmitis was controlled in all eyes after surgery;the visual acuity and intraocular pressure improved significantly after surgery (χ2=43.72, 6.83; P＜0.05). In group B, endophthalmitis was controlled in 19/30 eyes (63.33%) after surgery; evisceration was performed on 11 eyes (36.67%) because of the atrophy of the eyeball. There was no significant difference of visual acuity before and after surgery. Conclusions Vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade is an effective way to cure severe infected endophthalmitis. Performing the surgery immediately after the diagnosis is the key to achieve good effect. Key words: Eye infections/surgery;  Endophthalmitis/surgery;  Silicone oils/ therapeutic use; Vitrectomv