Intraluminal stenting versus external ligation of Ahmed glaucoma valve in prevention of postoperative hypotony.

AIM: To compare intraluminal stenting and external ligation of Ahmed glaucoma valves (AGV) for refractory glaucoma management and postoperative hypotony prevention. METHODS: This randomized prospective blind study included 30 eyes of 25 patients (age range: 44-56y) with refractory glaucoma. This study was conducted from September 2018 to January 2020. The study included two groups, AGV with intraluminal stenting group (n=15 eyes) and AGV with external ligation group (n=15 eyes). Follow-up period was one year postoperatively. The primary outcome was intraocular pressure (IOP) and its association with the number of postoperative glaucoma medications. IOP≤21 mm Hg without medications indicated complete success while IOP≤21 mm Hg with medications indicated qualified success; and IOP<6 mm Hg was defined as hypotony. RESULTS: After a year of follow-up, IOP was significantly reduced in the intraluminal stenting group than in the external ligation group (11.67±0.89 vs 14.2±4.0 mm Hg, respectively, P=0.024). Postoperative hypotony was more common in the external ligation group (2 cases, 13.33%) than in the intraluminal stenting group (1 case, 6.67%). CONCLUSION: Application of intraluminal stenting or external ligation during AGV surgery usually prevents postoperative hypotony (transient and persistent) that occurs in conventional AGV surgery.

An Ex-Press implant versus trabeculectomy in a fibrotic bleb with late failure after previous trabeculectomy.

AIM: To compare the outcome of an Ex-Press implant and subscleral trabeculectomy (SST) in the management of glaucoma after previous trabeculectomy on a fibrotic bleb. METHODS: This randomized prospective study included 28 eyes from 28 patients (age range: 42-55y) with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) presented with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) with fibrotic bleb despite previous SST for more than 4mo. The eyes enrolled in the study were divided into two groups: group I (subjected to Ex-Press implant surgery) and group II [subjected to SST with mitomycin C (MMC)]. The follow-up continued one year after surgery to evaluate IOP, visual acuity (VA), visual field (VF), and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A significant decrease in IOP was found in both groups with a higher reduction in Ex-Press implant surgery with the mean IOP of 14.50 mm Hg (P=0.001), while the SST group recorded the mean IOP of 16.50 mm Hg (P=0.001) after one year. However, the difference between the two groups in terms of the decrease in IOP was insignificant. Fewer postoperative complications were recorded in the Ex-Press implant surgery and more cases requiring further anti-glaucomatous medications were seen in the SST group. Both groups showed stability in terms of VA and VF. CONCLUSION: Ex-Press implant surgery and SST with MMC are two surgical alternatives for controlling IOP in late failure that occurs more than 4mo after previous SST with a fibrotic bleb. However, Ex-Press shunt is a safer surgery with fewer complications.

Pentacam changes in primary angle-closure glaucoma after different lines of treatment.

AIM: To assess the changes in the anterior chamber parameters using Pentacam following four different lines of treatment of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). METHODS: A retrospective comparative study included 126 patients (126 eye) presented within 24-48h after acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG). Patients were divided into 2 groups: group A (68 eyes) with controlled intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤21 mm Hg, which included subgroup A1 (34 eyes) with clear lens underwent Nd:YAG laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) and subgroup A2 (34 eyes) with cataract underwent standard phacoemulsification; and group B (58 eyes) with uncontrolled IOP, which included subgroup B1 (30 eyes) with clear lens underwent trabeculectomy and subgroup B2 (28 eyes) with cataract underwent combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy. Patients were followed up for at least 3mo. Primary outcomes were Pentacam anterior segment measurements [anterior chamber angle (ACA) and depth (ACD)]. Secondary outcomes were changes in IOP, visual acuity (VA) and recorded complications. RESULTS: At the 3rd month, there was significant increase in the ACA values in all studied groups compared to preoperative values (P<0.001). The highest percent of increase in ACA was recorded in phacotrabeculectomy group B2 (128.40%). There was significant increase in ACD values at 3rd month compared with baseline values (P<0.001) for groups A1, A2, and B2; without change in B1 trabeculectomy group. The maximum deepening of ACD was noticed in group B2 with 94.27% increase. Significant decrease in postoperative IOP in groups A2, B1 and B2 (P<0.001, P=0.014, and P<0.001 respectively). In group A1 there was significant increase in 3rd month postoperative IOP from baseline values (P<0.001). The maximum decrease in IOP was noticed in group B2 with 59.54% decrease. VA improvement in 3rd month postoperative was recorded in all studied groups, maximum VA improvement was observed in group B2 up to 0.2 logMAR. CONCLUSION: Pentacam can be a helpful tool in studying and comparing the effect of the different lines of management of PACG on the anterior chamber measures. Phacotrabeculectomy was proved to be an effective line for managing PACG with resultant significant increase in the anterior chamber parameters, IOP reduction as well as maximum VA improvement. LPI has only temporary effect on IOP with significant changes in ACA and ACD. Phacoemuslification alone can be an option in treating PACG. Trabeculectomy resulted in temporary increase in the anterior chamber parameter which subsequently returned to baseline values.

Comparison of orbital muscle akinesia caused by rocuronium versus hyaluronidase mixed to the local anesthetic in single injection peribulbar block for cataract surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare orbital muscle akinesia caused by rocuronium versus hyaluronidase when mixed with the local anesthetic in single-injection peribulbar anesthesia (PBA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were included in the study and subjected to cataract extraction using phacoemulsification technique with intraocular lens implantation. Group I received peribulbar block with 5 ml mixture of 30 IU/ml hyaluronidase and 2% lidocaine. Group II received peribulbar block with 5 ml mixture of rocuronium 5 mg and 2% lidocaine. The onset and duration of akinesia were assessed; the akinesia score at 2, 5, and 10 min was measured after injection. The need for supplementary injection was also recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: PBA using a mixture of rocuronium and lidocaine provides optimal globe akinesia and faster establishment of suitable conditions to start eye surgery and shortens the block onset time as compared with the addition of hyaluronidase to lidocaine.