Article Text
Abstract
Background/aims To assess silicone oil (SO) release by different brands of syringes used for intravitreal injection under different handling conditions.
Methods Eight syringes were analysed: from the USA, Terumo 0.5 mL, Becton-Dickinson (BD) Tuberculin 1 mL, BD Luer-lok 1 mL, BD Ultra-Fine 0.3 mL and Exel Insulin 0.3 mL; from Germany, Braun Omnifix-F 1 mL and Braun Injekt-F 1 mL and from Spain, BD Plastipak 1 mL. The impact of air, priming the plunger, agitation by flicking and fluid temperature on SO release were assessed by light microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed to identify the molecular compound in each syringe.
Results Five hundred and sixty syringes were analysed. Terumo 0.5 mL and BD Ultra-Fine 0.3 mL released more SO than all others. BD Luer-lok 1 mL, BD Plastipak and Braun Omnifix-F 1 mL released little SO; BD Tuberculin 1 mL, Exel 0.3 mL and Braun Injekt-F 1 mL released the least SO. Priming the syringe and different temperatures did not significantly affect SO release. Agitation by flicking caused a significantly higher proportion of samples to have SO droplets and an increased number of oil droplets. Air had an additive effect on the release of oil in the agitation groups. FTIR identified polysiloxane in all syringes but Injekt-F.
Conclusion Syringes commonly used for intravitreal injections frequently release SO droplets, especially when agitated by flicking. To avoid unnecessary ocular risks, syringes should not be agitated before intravitreal injection. It is desirable that syringes be manufactured specifically for ophthalmic use.
- syringe
- intravitreal injection
- silicone oil droplets
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Footnotes
Contributors GBM had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. GBM, GGE, ASL, MM, EBR contributed to the study concept and design. RBJr, CSDJr, MEF, GBM, FBM, SO, GGE and ASL contributed to the acquisition, analysis or interpretation of data. GBM and GGE drafted the manuscript. All authors contributed to the critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content and the final approval.
Funding This study was supported by EyePharma (São Paulo, Brazil), FAPESP (São Paulo, Brazil), CNPq (Brasília, Brazil) and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology/Pan-American Ophthalmological Foundation, Paul Kayser/Retina Research Foundation Global Award (Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology/Pan-American Ophthalmological Foundation, Arlington, Texas, USA). None of the funders/sponsors had any role in design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis and interpretation of the data; preparation, review or approval of the manuscript and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent for publication Not required.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
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