@article {Naveed1313, author = {Hasan Naveed and Fong May Chew and Hanbin Lee and Edward Hughes and Mayank A Nanavaty}, title = {Aerosol generation through pars plana vitrectomy}, volume = {105}, number = {9}, pages = {1313--1317}, year = {2021}, doi = {10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-317214}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group Ltd}, abstract = {Purpose To assess whether pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) is an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP) in an ex vivo experimental model.Methods In this ex vivo study on 10 porcine eyes, optical particle counter was used to measure particles <=10~μm using cumulative mode in the six in-built channels: 0.3~μm, 0.5~μm, 1~μm, 2.5~μm, 5~μm and 10~μm aerosols during PPV. Two parts of the study were as follows: (1) to assess the pre-experimental baseline aerosol count in the theatre environment where there are dynamic changes in temperature and humidity and (2) to measure aerosol generation with 23-gauge and 25-gauge set-up. For each porcine eye, five measurements were taken for each consecutive step in the experiment including pre-PPV, during PPV, fluid{\textendash}air exchange (FAX) and venting using a flute with 23-gauge set-up and a chimney with 25-gauge set-up. Therefore, a total of 200 measurements were recorded.Results With 23-gauge and 25-gauge PPV, there was no significant difference in aerosol generation in all six channels comparing pre-PPV versus PPV or pre-PPV versus FAX. Venting using flute with 23-gauge PPV showed significant reduction of aerosol <=1~μm. Air venting using chimney with 25-gauge set-up showed no significant difference in aerosol of <=1~μm. For cumulative aerosol counts of all particles measuring <=5~μm, compared with pre-PPV, PPV or FAX, flute venting in 23-gauge set-up showed significant reduction unlike the same comparison for chimney venting in 25-gauge set-up.Conclusion PPV and its associate steps do not generate aerosols <=10~μm with 23-gauge and 25-gauge set-ups.}, issn = {0007-1161}, URL = {https://bjo.bmj.com/content/105/9/1313}, eprint = {https://bjo.bmj.com/content/105/9/1313.full.pdf}, journal = {British Journal of Ophthalmology} }