April 2010
Volume 51, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2010
Adjustable Suture Removal: Increasing Aqueous Flow in "Safe" Trabeculectomy.
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • D. Rivier
    Glaucoma Unit, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • W. Ferrini
    Glaucoma Unit, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • C. Bergin
    Department of Optometry and Visual sciences, City University, London, United Kingdom
  • E. Sharkawi
    Glaucoma Unit, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  D. Rivier, None; W. Ferrini, None; C. Bergin, None; E. Sharkawi, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  None.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2010, Vol.51, 608. doi:
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    • Get Citation

      D. Rivier, W. Ferrini, C. Bergin, E. Sharkawi; Adjustable Suture Removal: Increasing Aqueous Flow in "Safe" Trabeculectomy.. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2010;51(13):608.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: : Aqueous flow through trabeculectomy blebs has been suggested to influence filtration bleb survival. We investigated the relationship between the requirement to increase aqueous flow via adjustable suture removal and surgical outcomes following "safe trabeculectomy" with mitomycin C (MMC).

Methods: : 62 consecutive eyes of 53 patients underwent fornix based trabeculectomy with adjustable sutures, intraoperative MMC and intensive postoperative steroids. Subconjunctival antimetabolite injections and bleb needlings were administered according to bleb vascularity and IOP trends. Main outcome measures were: success rates (definition: IOP≤21mmHg and 20% IOP reduction); number of antimetabolite injections; bleb needlings; number of of eyes recommencing glaucoma medications and complications.

Results: : Mean age was 70.4±16.0 years (mean± SD); mean preoperative IOP was 24.5±9.1 mmHg and decreased to 12.3±8.9mmHg postoperatively. Mean number of sutures was 2.6 ± 0.7. Eyes were divided into 2 groups in relation to the number of sutures removed. The number of subconjunctival MMC injections required for those requiring 2 suture removals was significantly greater than those requiring 1 suture removal (p<0.05) The number of needlings and 5FU injections also increased but did not reach significance (p=0.09 and p=0.34 respectively). Least-squared linear regression analysis showed the number of needlings required had a statistically significant (p=0.05) trend with respect to time elapsed between surgery and first suture removal. No other interventions had significant trends. Mean time between surgery and suture removal was: 4.2±9.2 weeks (suture #1) and 5.7±9.7 weeks (suture#2). Antiglaucoma medication was restarted in only 5 eyes. Postoperative complications were infrequent: Seidel (3.2%), peripheral choroidal effusions at any time (3.2%), and shallow anterior chamber (1.6%).

Conclusions: : Eyes requiring a greater number of suture removals required a significantly greater number of antifibrosis interventions. The time elapsed before suture removal was inversely related to the number of postoperative needlings, suggesting these eyes may have decreased aqueous production and therefore require aggressive post-operative management to prevent bleb failure.

Keywords: intraocular pressure 
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