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PubMed · 8015779

Releasable "U" suture for trabeculectomy surgery.

Abstract

Overfiltration after glaucoma surgery can lead to significant complications. Tight suturing of the trabeculectomy flap reduces this problem but can lead to higher pressure and poor drainage of aqueous. Releasable sutures often leave irritating exposed suture ends. We describe a simple two-arm releasable suture technique that leaves no exposed suture ends until one arm of the suture is removed. Good control of postoperative pressure with few complications was achieved in 28 cases using this technique, which allows manipulation at the slit lamp of the trabeculectomy flap, obviating laser lysis of the sutures.

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BibTeXRIS

D Maberley, A Apel, D S Rootman. 1994. Releasable "U" suture for trabeculectomy surgery.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8015779/

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Do scleral flap dimensions influence reliability of intraocular pressure control in experimental trabeculectomy?

AIM: To compare the effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) of large vs small scleral flap size during trabeculectomy using adjustable sutures. METHODS: Trabeculectomy operations were performed on nine donor human eyes connected to a constant flow infusion with real-time IOP monitoring. Large scleral flaps (4 x 4 mm, 16 mm(2), n=12) or small scleral flaps (3 x 2 mm, 6 mm(2), n=9) were constructed over 0.76 mm(2) sclerostomies. For each procedure, equilibrium IOP was measured following tight closure with two four-throw adjustable 10-0 nylon sutures. RESULTS: Five scleral flaps were thin or poorly constructed; four of these were in the initial seven procedures, implying learning effect. These had a mean absolute IOP of 7.6 mmHg (range 2.7-12.4 mmHg) and mean relative IOP of 28.3% of baseline (range 10-45.8%) after closure. In the remaining 16 good quality procedures, mean IOP was 1.3 mmHg (range 0-3.4 mmHg) after sclerostomy, confirming minimal outflow resistance before closure. Following flap closure mean IOP was 20 mmHg (SD 4.4, range 15.5-29.3 mmHg) for large (n=8), and 18.7 mmHg (SD 3.6, 15.9-25.8 mmHg) for small (n=8) flaps (unpaired t-test, P=0.26). Mean IOP (% baseline) was 71.6% (SD 8.4, range 60.6-86.6%) and 66% (SD=12.7, 46.8-86.6%) for large and small flap groups, respectively (unpaired t-test, P=0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Well-constructed scleral flaps of both sizes were able to support an average IOP at least two-thirds of baseline, and both had similar absolute IOP levels. Errors in flap construction resulted in loss of IOP control. Smaller flap size does not appear to compromise control of early postoperative IOP using adjustable sutures.

Glaucoma↗