Early Pars Plana Vitrectomy in Acute Endophthalmitis: The Manchester Series

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Current literature lacks good-quality evidence regarding the outcomes of early pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for acute exogenous endophthalmitis. The aim for this study was to analyze and discuss the outcomes of PPV for endophthalmitis in a UK tertiary hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a retrospective case series. The clinical records of consecutive patients who had PPV for acute exogenous endophthalmitis were reviewed. Demographic data, etiology, timing of onset, timing of PPV, intra- and postoperative complications, baseline and final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), therapeutic regimens, and microbiology details were collected. Primary efficacy and safety outcome measures were BCVA improvement of two or more logMAR lines and intraor postoperative complications, respectively. RESULTS: Forty-one patients with a median age of 76 (interquartile range, 64 to 82) years were studied. The most common etiology was intravitreal injection (41%), followed by phacoemulsification (34%). Median interval to PPV was 1.0 (interquartile range, 1.0 to 3.0) days. In a multivariate model controlling for age, baseline BCVA, microbiology positivity, and etiology (post-intravitreal injection), PPV after 24 hours was seven times more likely to achieve significant BCVA improvement (odds ratio, 7.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 49.66; P = .038). PPV within 24 hours of presentation was associated with more intraoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Favorable outcomes may be achieved with current antibiotic regimens and PPV for endophthalmitis. The series suggests that an early surgical intervention may be associated with poorer functional outcomes. Tap and inject at presentation, followed by a semi-urgent PPV as required, seems to be a sensible approach.