Evaluation of arteriovenou croing heathotomy for branch retinal vein occluion by fluorecein videoangiography and image analyi

Purpoe We quantitatively evaluated the effect of arteriovenou (A/V) croing heathotomy on retinal circulation in patient with branch retinal vein occluion (BRVO) accompanied by macular edema. Deign Interventional cae erie. Method In 18 conecutive patient (18 eye) with BRVO accompanied by macular edema who underwent A/V croing heathotomy between Augut 1999 and April 2002, change in retinal circulation after the urgery were evaluated by fluorecein videoangiography with a canning laer ophthalmocope and by image analyi uing dye dilution technique. At a venule dital to the reponible A/V croing ite and a normal venule, the circulation time (T50) from the beginning of filling to 50% filling of the peak intenity wa calculated. The time difference (ΔT50) between T50 at the point on the affected venule and that at the point on the normal venule, which repreent the filling delay at the venule dital to the A/V croing ite, wa compared between before and early after the urgery. Reult The preoperative ΔT50 wa 1.36 ± 1.15 econd (mean ± D), and the potoperative ΔT50 wa 0.72 ± 0.77 econd (P = .035, paired t tet). In 11 of the 18 eye, ΔT50 decreaed by 20% or more after the urgery. In the other 7 eye, ΔT50 wa unchanged or lightly increaed after the urgery. Concluion Although a randomized controlled tudy i needed to confirm the effectivene of A/V croing heathotomy on viual function, thi technique could be effective for improving the delay in perfuion in the affected venule.