Medical Terminology Simplified

538 CHAPTER 11• Special Senses: Eyes and Ears

Term Definition

retrobulbar

rĕt-rō-BŬL-băr

sclerotomy

sklĕ-RŎT-ō-mē

vitrectomy

vĭ-TRĔK-tō-mē

Reading

Practice pronunciation of medical terms by reading the following medical report aloud.

Retinal Detachment

DIAGNOSIS:Total retinal detachment, left eye, secondary to complications of retinitis.

PROCEDURE:Patient was taken to the operating room, placed on the operating table, IV infusion begun, EKG
lead monitor attached, and retrobulbar anesthetic given, achieving good anesthesia and akinesia. The patient was
scrubbed, prepped, and draped in a standard sterile fashion for retinal surgery. A 360-degree conjunctival opening
was made and 2-0 silk sutures were placed around each rectus muscle. Four millimeters from the limbus, a mark in
the sclera was made and preplaced 5-0 Mersiline suture was passed. A mitrovitreoretinal stab incision was made, and
a 4-mm infusion cannula was slipped into position and visualized inside the eye. Similar sclerotomy sites were made
superior nasally and superior temporally. Trans pars plana vitrectomy was undertaken. Dense vitreous hemorrhage
and debris were found, which were removed. There was incomplete posterior vitreous attachment. The retina was al-
most totally detached, and a small amount of nasal retina was still attached. A linear retinal break was seen just above
the disk along a vessel. Gradually, all peripheral vitreous was removed.
Air-fluid exchange was performed with some difficulty because some sort of vitreous was found anteriorly, which
loculated the bubble. It gave me a peculiar view, but slowly the retina became totally flat, and we treated the retinal
break with the diode laser. A 240 band was wrapped around the eye and fixed with the Watke’s sleeve superior tem-
porally. The sclerotomies were all sewn closed. Before the last sclerotomy was closed, the air was exchanged for silicone.
The eye was left soft because the patient had poor perfusion.

Evaluation

Review the medical report above to answer the following questions. Use a medical dictionary such as Taber’s
Cyclopedic Medical Dictionaryand other resources if needed.

1. Where is the retina located?

Visit the Medical Terminology Simplifiedonline resource center at DavisPlus to practice

pronunciation and reinforce the meanings of selected terms in this medical report.