Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of Nd:YAG laser embolysis combined urokinase thrombolysis therapy for branch retinal artery occlusion. Methods Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients with branch or hemiretinal artery occlusion (RAO) were studied. All patients were confirmed according to the diagnosis criteria of RAO at acute stage, disease course ranged from 12 hours to nine days. Local retinal edema and the yellowish white embolus within the retinal arteriole could be observed by color photograph and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) examination. Nd:YAG laser therapy was given to all eyes, which focused on the embolus by an ocular contact lens. The laser pulse was delivered directly and gradually by 0.3-0.9 mJ according to embolus condition. Fundus photographs and FFA were taken before and immediately after the laser treatment. On the next day after laser treatment, all patients received urokinase thrombolysis therapy through intravenous drip of 100 000200 000IU per time by two times for five consecutive days. Follow-up time ranged from two to three days after drug treatment and all patients accepted FFA, visual acuity and visual field examination. According to early angiography images of fluorescence filling, the recovery will be graded into full recovery, great recovery, partial recovery and invalid. Results After laser treatment, most eyes showed immediate recovery of blood flow in the occluded arteriole in fundus examination. Complete, great, and partial recovery were found in 13 eye (38.2%), 11 eyes (32.4%), and five eyes (14.7%) respectively by FFA examination; five eyes (14.7%) did not response to the treatment. After urokinase thrombolysis therapy, complete, great, and partial recovery were found in 16 eye (47.1%), 15 eyes (44.1%), and three eyes (8.8%). The difference of visual acuity was statistically significant before and after the combined treatment ( chi;2=30.7,P<0.05). In most cases, visual field defect showed lighter than before. No systemic complications were observed during the combined treatment. Conclusion Nd:YAG laser embolysis combined urokinase thrombolysis therapy for branch retinal artery occlusion is effective and relatively safe.
Citation: 王润生,吕沛霖,杜善双,雷晓琴. Nd:YAG laser embolysis combined urokinase thrombolysis therapy for branch retinal artery occlusion. Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases, 2011, 27(2): 153-156. doi: Copy