COMPARISON of 20-, 23-, and 25-GAUGE AIR INFUSION FORCES

Abstract

Purpose: To determine and compare 20-, 23-, and 25-gauge retinal infusion air jet impact pressure (force per unit area) in an experimental setting.Methods: Experimental laboratory investigation. Infusion cannulas were connected to a compressed air system. A controlled valve mechanism was used to obtain increasing levels of infusion pressure. Each infusion tube was positioned in front of a manual transducer to measure force. Impact pressure was calculated using known formulas in fluid dynamics.Results: the 20-gauge infusion jet showed similar impact pressure values compared with the 23-gauge infusion jet. Both showed higher levels than the 25-gauge infusion jet. This was because of the smaller jet force for the 25-gauge system.Conclusion: in this experimental study, both the 23- and the 20-gauge air infusion jet showed higher impact pressure values compared with the 25-gauge air infusion jet. This could be of concern regarding air infusion during 23-gauge vitrectomy since retinal damage has been shown in standard-gauge surgeries. RETINA 31:2002-2006, 2011