Sulfur Hexafluoride 20% versus Lactated Ringers Solution for Prevention of Early Postoperative Vitreous Hemorrhage after Diabetic Vitrectomy

Purpose: to compare the hemostatic effect of sulfur hexafluoride 20% (sf6 20%) withlactated ringer’s solution for prevention of early postoperative vitreous hemorrhagefollowing diabetic vitrectomy.methods: in a prospective randomized clinical trial, 50 eyes undergoing diabeticvitrectomy were divided into two groups. at the conclusion of surgery, in one groupthe vitreous cavity was filled with sf6 20% while in the other group lactated ringer’ssolution was retained in the vitreous cavity. the two groups were compared for therate of early postoperative vitreous hemorrhage.results: the incidence of vitreous hemorrhage was lower in the sf6 group than theringer’s group 4 days (20% vs 68%, p=0.001), 7 days (24% vs 60%, p=0.01) and 4weeks (16% vs 40%, p=0.059) after vitrectomy.conclusion: in comparison with lactated ringer’s solution, sf6 20% had a significanthemostatic effect especially in the early postoperative period after diabetic vitrectomy and reduced the incidence of vitreous hemorrhage.