Compared effectiveness of brilliant blue G for internal limiting membrane peeling in idiopathic epiretinal membrane in novice and experimented surgeons

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the reliability of expected peeled surface after internal limiting membrane (ILM) removal by junior and senior surgeons with or without Brilliant Blue G (BBG) dye. Methods We conducted a prospective study based on videorecordings of epiretinal membrane surgeries. Surgeries were performed by a senior vitreoretinal surgeon (SS) and two junior surgeons (JS). Patients were included into two groups: SS(group 1) and JS(group 2). In each surgery, after the ILM peeling, the surgeon described the expected peeled area (A1). Then, the instillation of brilliant blue G stained the actual peeled area (A2). The third area (A3) corresponded to the additional surface peeled with the help of BBG. Areas were measured in square millimeters using the software ImageJ 1.43 µ. Results 15 patients were included in each group. In the group 1, A1 was 15.1+/‐5.1 mm2, A2 was 13.0+/‐8.0 mm2 and A3 was 16.3+/‐5.0 mm2. In the group 2, A1 was 6.5+/‐4.4 mm2, A2 was 5.9+/‐5.3 mm2 and A3 was 11.2+/‐5.1 mm2. In both groups, there was no stastical difference between A1 and A2 (P = 0.1875 and P = 0.5186 respectivally in group 1 and 2). A2 in the group 1 was significantly larger than A2 in the group 2 (P = 0.0195)as well as A3 (P = 0.0166). Conclusion In our study, both senior and junior surgeons were able to determine the surface of ILM peeled without BBG. However, the surface of ILM peeled with the dye was larger with BBG with both junior and senior surgeons.