Role of bevacizumab in the prevention of early postoperative haemorrhage after 25-gauge microincision vitrectomy surgery

Objective: To evaluate the effect of preoperative intravitreal bevacizumab injection on the incidence of postoperative haemorrhage and visual prognosis, in patients undergoing 25-gauge micro incision vitrectomy surgery (MIVS) for diabetic vitreous haemorrhage.

Methods: One hundred and twenty two eyes of 122 patients of diabetic retinopathy of both genders and aged over 18 years, who presented with non-resolving vitreous haemorrhage were enrolled for this study. All patients received an intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg/0.05 mL bevacizumab (Avastin) which was followed one week later by 25-gauge sutureless micro incision vitrectomy surgery. Main outcomes measured were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) assessed with logMAR and post-operative vitreous haemorrhage. Follow ups were up to six months post-operatively. IBM SPSS 21 was used for data analysis.

Result: A total of 122 patients were included; 78 (63.9%) males and 44 (36.1%) females. Mean age at the time of surgery was 51.4 ± 13.66 years. The mean preoperative BCVA was 1.64 ± 0.427 logMAR which improved to 0.57 ± 0.253 logMAR at 12 months post-operatively (p-value < 0.001). Recurrent vitreous haemorrhage was seen in four patients (3.28%).one1 week before 25-gauge vitrectomy helps to reduce the incidence of early post-vitrectomy haemorrhage in diabetic patients.