THE BELGIAN OPHTHALMIC ASSOCIATIONS
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This abstract is assigned to session BOG-SBO 6 Glaucoma / Glaucome
| Title | Medium term follow-up of intraocular pressure (IOP) control after needling of encapsulated blebs |
| Abstract Nr. | A2051 |
| Purpose | To investigate the efficacy and safety of needling of encapsulated blebs after trabeculectomy. |
| Methods | A retrospective chart review of 36 eyes of 36 patients who underwent filtering eye surgery (33 trabeculectomy and 3 deep sclerectomy) with subsequent needling of encapsulated bleb between January 2002 and December 2003. The mean follow-up was 19 months after the first needling. All interventions were conducted by the same surgeon. Absolute success was defined as an IOP < 18 mmHg or an IOP reduction > 20% if the preoperative IOP was 21 mmHg, without medication. Relative succes was defined as meeting these criteria with or without medication. |
| Results | The mean interval between trabeculectomy and the 1st needling was 12.6 weeks. Repeated needling (8) was performed as clinically necessary. In 93% of the needlings 5-FU was used to prevent postoperative fibrosis. The mean IOP before the needling and at the last follow-up was respectively 21.8 and 13.6 mmHg (p<0.001) Needling was an absolute success in 50% (18/36) and a relative success in 70% (25/36). Minor complications attributed to needling occurred in 32% of the patients including self resorbing subconjunctival bleeding (4), punctatic keratitis (2), transient hypotony (3) and wound leak (4) (one patient requiring suture). A serious complication occurred in 1 case (branch vein occlusion). There were no patients who developed blebitis or endophtalmitis during the course of the study. |
| Conclusion | Needling of an encapsulated bleb in the early post-operative period is a minor procedure that lowers the IOP efficiently and probably enhances medium-term bleb function. |
Author 1
| Last name | GILLIS |
| Initials | A |
| Department | AZ Middelheim Antwerp |
Author 2
| Last name | Jacobs |
| Initials | S |
| Department | KUL |
Author 3
| Last name | Van Malderen |
| Initials | L |
| Department | KUL |
Author 4
| Last name | Zeyen |
| Initials | T |
| Department | AZM + KUL |