A patient undergoing pars plana vitrectomy for a complex inferior retinal detachment will require prolonged postoperative tamponade because the surgeon anticipates delayed epithelialization issues and cannot guarantee positioning compliance. Which intraocular gas provides the longest duration of internal tamponade?

• A Filtered air
• B SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride)
• C C3F8 (perfluoropropane) ✓
• D C2F6 (hexafluoroethane)

Explanation

D3F8 provides the longest tamponade among the standard gases, persisting for approximately 6 to 8 weeks depending on concentration. SF6 lasts about 10 to 14 days and filtered air about 5 to 7 days. D2F6 is intermediate, roughly 3 to 4 weeks. The choice of gas is governed by the required duration of chorioretinal adhesion, so a need for many weeks of support points to D3F8 rather than the shorter acting agents.

Reference: Kanski's Clinical Ophthalmology, 9th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.