Ocular oxygen consumption during vitreoperfusion in the cat.

PURPOSE Little is known about the total ocular oxygen consumption rate (QO2) in human diseases. Reductions in QO2 may indicate the amount of tissue loss produced by conditions such as retinal ischemia. We sought a method to estimate QO2 that eventually could be used in patients during vitrectomy surgery. METHODS We performed vitreoperfusion (perfusion of the vitreous cavity after vitrectomy) in 22 cat eyes with no ocular blood flow. The solution contained nutrients and a high partial pressure of oxygen (PO2). In 8 eyes we placed an oxygen electrode on the sclera, choroid, or outer retina to evaluate oxygen delivery from the vitreoperfusion solution (group 1). In 8 eyes the retinas were undisturbed (group 2), and in 6 eyes we excised the retinas (group 3). In groups 2 and 3 we estimated QO2 from the temporal decline of PO2 in the vitreoperfusion solution according to a pharmacokinetic model. RESULTS Group 1 demonstrated oxygenation of the entire retina. The means and standard deviations of QO2 were 3.2 +/- 0.8 and 0.4 +/- 0.7 microL/min in groups 2 and 3, respectively, the difference being the retinal contribution, 88%. In group 2, metabolism accounted for an average of 82% of the oxygen loss from the vitreoperfusion solution, whereas flow and diffusion accounted for 13% and 5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Ocular oxygen consumption can be estimated by means of vitreoperfusion. Further developments may allow measurements in patients during vitreous surgery to clarify the pathophysiology of their diseases and assess the amount of retinal tissue that has been lost.