Outcome of viscodilation and tensioning of Schlemm's canal for uveitic glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of circumferential viscodilation and tensioning of Schlemm's canal (canaloplasty) in the treatment of uveitic glaucoma (UG). DESIGN: Pilot, retrospective, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen uveitic eyes of 15 patients with UG. METHODS: The main outcome measure was surgical success. Secondary outcome measures included intraocular pressure, usage of ocular hypotensive medication, visual acuity, and sight-threatening complications. Patients were included when UG could not be controlled despite maximum tolerated medical therapy. Exclusion criteria were peripheral anterior synechiae and previous glaucoma surgery. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time from canaloplasty was 2.6 ± 1.1 years. Mean intraocular pressure decreased from 30.4 ± 8.4 mm Hg preoperatively to 13.8 ± 5.0 mm Hg at last follow-up (p < 0.001). The mean number of ocular hypotensive medications decreased from 3.7 ± 0.8 preoperatively to 0.4 ± 1.0 at last follow-up (p < 0.001). At last follow-up, the complete success, qualified success, and failure rates were 73.7%, 10.5%, and 15.8%, respectively. No canaloplasty-related permanent sight-reducing complications occurred. Preoperative best corrected visual acuity decreased more than 1 Snellen line in 1 eye due to exacerbation of uveitis 18 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Canaloplasty appears to be a relatively safe and effective initial surgical intervention in UG.

Ultrasound biomicroscopy in nonperforating filtering surgery with intraoperative 5-fluorouracil and no implant: long-term results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term morphologic changes in the anterior segment structures after nonpenetrating filtering surgery (NPFS) supplemented with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and no scleral implant using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). METHODS: Thirteen eyes of 13 consecutive patients who underwent NPFS with intraoperative 5-FU under the conjunctiva and the scleral flap and no implant were evaluated in an observational nonrandomized, consecutive case series study conducted 2 years postoperatively. Patients were assessed for the presence of a subconjunctival filtering bleb, the volume of an intrascleral cavity, and a suprachoroidal hypoechoic area. The intraocular pressure(IOP) was measured preoperatively and postoperatively at the time of UBM. RESULTS: The IOP decreased significantly (p=0.01) from 24-/+7.6 mmHg to 13.7-/+4.1 mmHg. In most patients (69.2%), the postoperative IOP decreased at least 30% from the preoperative value without medications and in 84.6% with medication. UBM showed a subconjunctival empty space in 92.3% of eyes. In 84.6% of patients, an intrascleral cavity was seen, the mean volume of which was 1.68 mm(3) (range, 0-4.07). We found a negative correlation between the height, width, and volume of the intrascleral lake and the IOP. In 92.3% of eyes, a hypoechoic area in the suprachoroidal space also was seen. CONCLUSIONS: UBM showed a filtering intrascleral cavity, subconjunctival filtering bleb, and a suprachoroidal space after NPFS supplemented with 5-FU under the conjunctiva and the scleral flap without an implant.

Prospective randomized comparison of 1-day and 3-day application of topical 0.5% moxifloxacin in eliminating preoperative conjunctival bacteria.

PURPOSE: Compare the efficacy of a 1-day versus 3-day application of topical 0.5% moxifloxacin in reducing preoperative conjunctival bacteria. METHODS: Following IRB approval, patients (n = 144) scheduled for ocular surgery between 2004 and 2005 were recruited and randomized to receive topical 0.5% moxifloxacin drops four times a day for either 1 day (n = 63) or 3 days (n = 57) prior to surgery. Conjunctival cultures were obtained at baseline (T0), after application of antibiotic (T1), following povidone-iodine and additional antibiotic applications immediately before surgery (T2), and after surgery (T3). Cultures were inoculated onto blood and chocolate agar plates and in thioglycolate broth, and then incubated at 37 degrees C for 10 days. Bacterial growth were isolated, identified, quantified, and compared. RESULTS: There were similar (P = 0.8435) rates of patients with positive thioglycolate cultures between the 1-day (79.37%) and 3-day groups (82.46%) at T0. At T1, T2, and T3, the number of eyes with positive cultures were again similar (1 day, 3 days, P value [T1: 34.9%, 35.1%, P = 0.8631; T2: 14.3%, 7%, P = 0.3245; T3: 7.9%, 3.5%, P = 0.5199]). No significant differences were found between the colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria on solid agar media in 1-day and 3-day groups at any of the time points studied (P values: 0.1-0.8). Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most commonly isolated (73.3% at baseline). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing intraocular anterior segment surgery, 1-day and 3-day applications of topical 0.5% moxifloxacin appear to have similar efficacy in reducing perioperative conjunctival bacteria.

Anestesia local en cirugía vitreorretinal y de polo anterior en pacientes menores de 20 años / Local anaesthesia for vitreoretinal and anterior segment surgery in patient under 20 year old

Introducción: Pese al aumento en el uso de anestesia regional en cirugía oftalmológica, esta técnica es aún poco usada en pacientes jóvenes. Objetivo: Analizar la utilidad y seguridad de la anestesia regional en pacientes menores de 20 años operados en la Fundación Oftalmológica Los Andes. Método: Revisión retrospectiva de 45 cirugías vitreorretinales y 27 cirugías de polo anterior, en menores de 20 años, realizadas con anestesia regional en nuestro servicio entre los años 2002 al 2004. Resultados: La edad fluctuó entre 12 y 20 años. No se reportaron complicaciones anestésicas intraoperatorias serias y en todos los casos se realizó el procedimiento sin inconvenientes, tanto para el cirujano como para el paciente. Los requerimientos de sedación fueron mayores en los pacientes sometidos a cirugía vitreorretinal (p<0,05). No hubo casos de conversión a anestesia general. Conclusión: La anestesia regional es una alternativa segura y bien tolerada, aún en cirugía vitreorretinal compleja.

[Comparison between Greenbaum's parabulbar anesthesia and Ripart's subtenon anesthesia in the anterior segment surgery]. / Comparaison de l'anesthésie parabulbaire selon Greenbaum et l'anesthésie sous-ténonienne de Ripart dans la chirurgie du segment antérieur.

PURPOSE: To compare two methods of sub-tenon anesthesia in 80 surgical procedures (phakoemulsification, glaucoma and combined surgery) in a prospective, single-surgeon study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients requiring anterior segment surgery in each eye were randomised to receive subtenon anaesthesia by either Greenbaum's method (using a flexible plastic cannula) or Ripart's method (using a 23G hypodermic needle). Randomization dictated the mode of anaesthesia for the first eye, the other technique being used for the second eye. Anaesthesia consisted of 1.5ml lidocaïne 2% and 1.5ml bupivacaïne 0.5% in all cases, and was performed by the same surgeon (EDLM) immediately before surgery. Type of surgical procedure, duration, complications, presence of sub-conjunctival haemorrhage, were assessed by the surgeon, who also graded chemosis (0-3), nuclear hardness (1-4), and ocular akinesia (0-2) for each patient. Pain was scored subjectively by each patient (0-10) during the injection, peroperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: Chemosis was significatively higher with Greenbaum's method than Ripart's method (p<0.01) and was sometimes undesirable for the surgeon. There was no difference in the pain score during the injection, preoperatively or postoperatively. Pain was usually very light and did not correlate with the duration of surgery. There was no akinesia in the majority of cases with either method, but the surgeon was sometimes limited by the akinesia of the medial rectus muscle and often by that of the inferior rectus muscle with elevation of the globe. CONCLUSION: Greenbaum's method and Ripart's method are two subtenon anesthesic techniques characterized by an immediate, intense and prolonged analgesia (sometimes 60mn). Complete akinesia is rare and this is sometimes limiting. Chemosis was more often associated with Greenbaum's method, but Ripart's method carries the potential for needle-related complications.

[Peri-ocular anesthesia by unique caruncular injection in surgery of the anterior segment]. / Anesthésie péri-oculaire par injection caronculaire unique dans la chirurgie du segment antérieur.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of medial canthus local anesthesia in anterior segment surgery. METHODS: From December 1st 1996 to October 24th 1997, 234 patients underwent anterior segment surgery under caruncular single injection anesthesia: cataract, phacotrabeculectomy, corneal graft and triple procedure. RESULTS: The technique achieved good globe anesthesia and lid and orbital muscle akinesia. Neither globe perforation nor lid ecchymoses were observed. CONCLUSION: Caruncular single injection appears to be a good alternative to classical peribulbar block.

Compatibility of corticosteroids and antibiotics in combination.

PURPOSE: To study the compatibility of combinations of antibiotics and steroids commonly used in anterior segment surgery. SETTING: Research Laboratory, Helsinki University, Finland. METHODS: Aggregate production in vitro and in vivo was studied for three injectable antibiotics (cefotaxime sodium, tobramycin sulfate, and gentamicin) and four corticosteroids (triamcinolone acetonide, methylprednisolone sodium succinate, methylprednisolone acetate, and dexamethasone sodium phosphate) using conventional and dark-field microscopy. Aggregate formation on collagen shields and subconjunctival aggregate formation of tobramycin sulfate in combination with methylprednisolone acetate or dexamethasone sodium phosphate was also studied. RESULTS: Dexamethasone sodium phosphate (4 mg/mL) did not form aggregates with any of the three antibiotics tested. Cefotaxime sodium did not cause aggregates when 24 mg/mL of dexamethasone sodium phosphate was used both in vitro and in vivo or in association with collagen shields. CONCLUSIONS: To avoid undesired side effects, such as epithelial sloughing and corneal edema after collagen shield application, antibiotics and steroids must be carefully selected.

One quadrant sub-Tenon's capsule anesthesia in anterior segment surgery.

Reports of complications associated with local anesthesia in ophthalmic surgery have increased conspicuously in recent years. Sub-Tenon's capsule anesthesia for anterior segment surgery avoids the risks of retrobulbar and peribulbar injections. This study compared sub-Tenon's and retrobulbar anesthesia. Patients undergoing various anterior segment surgery were randomly assigned to sub-Tenon's or retrobulbar anesthesia; 300 were operated with 1-quadrant sub-Tenon's anesthesia (1-QST) and the results were compared with 270 patients operated with retrobulbar anesthesia. Retrobulbar anesthesia consisted of a 2.5 ml injection of a 1:1 mixture of 2% lidocaine without epinephrine and 0.5% bupivacaine. Sub-Tenon's anesthesia involved direct transconjunctival infiltration of the same local anesthetic directly into the sub-Tenon's space, in the inferior-nasal quadrant, using a blunt 23-gauge cannula. Patients undergoing various anterior segment surgery procedures were randomly assigned to 1-QST or retrobulbar anesthesia; 300 patients were operated with 1-QST and the results were compared with 270 patients operated with retrobulbar anesthesia. Preinjection mean (+/- SD) IOP wer 12.9 +/- 3.7 mmHg in the retrobulbar and 13.4 +/- 3.2 mmHg in the 1-QST patients. Preoperative intraocular pressures were 8.7 +/- 3.0 mmHg in the retrobulbar and 9.2 +/- 3.2 mmHg in 1-QST patients. Pre- and postinjection IOP for retrobulbar and 1-QST patients were similar. Pain scores for delivery of the anesthetic, using a numerical rating scale, produced a median score of 1 for 1-QST and 2 for the retrobulbar technique. For the subsequent operative procedure, the median score was 1 for 1-QST and 2 for the retrobulbar patients. Complete akinesia was achieved in 41% with 1-QST and in 69% of retrobulbar patients. 1-QST patients with incomplete akinesia most often had lateral muscle function which did not interfere with the operation. We found the use of a blunt cannula to deliver anesthetic into the sub-Tenon's space as a simple, safe and effective alternative approach to traditional retrobulbar anesthesia in anterior segment surgery.

Trabeculectomy at the inferior limbus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) control and surgical complications following trabeculectomy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or mitomycin at the inferior limbus. METHODS: The charts of all patients undergoing trabeculectomy at the inferior limbus from July 1984 to March 1993 were reviewed. Surgical success was defined as IOP greater than 4 mm Hg and less than 22 mm Hg and at least a 20% reduction from preoperative IOP. PATIENTS: All 101 eyes of 101 patients had undergone prior intraocular surgery at the superior limbus. Mean patient age was 57.5 +/- 2.0 (+/-SE) years; mean follow-up was 23.4+/-2.3 months; mean preoperative IOP was 32.8+/-0.9 mm Hg; and mean number of preoperative antiglaucoma medications was 2.8+/-0.1. RESULTS: Ninety-four eyes (93.1%) received postoperative 5-FU (mean total dose, 36.3+/-1.7 mg) and seven eyes (6.9%) received intraoperative mitomycin (0.5 mg/mL). Cumulative success for all eyes at 2 and 5 years was 56% and 38%, respectively. Intraocular pressure control without medications was achieved in 39% and 15% of eyes at 2 and 5 years, respectively. Complications included 5-FU epitheliopathy (34.0% of eyes receiving 5-FU), early wound leak (26.7%), choroidal effusion (25.7%), late bleb leak (12.9%), and late bleb-related endophthalmitis (11.9%). CONCLUSION: Although trabeculectomy at the inferior limbus offers the opportunity for surgical success in eyes at high risk of failure, this procedure carries an increased risk for late complications and should be reserved for cases in which the therapeutic options are extremely limited.

Use of the anterior chamber maintainer in anterior segment surgery.

Over a 12 month period, we used the anterior chamber maintainer (ACM) in cataract surgery in 258 patients; ages ranged from 15 to 95 years (mean 73 years). Surgery was performed using general or local anesthesia. The procedures were standard extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE), mini-nuc ECCE, vectis extraction of the endonucleus, manual phacofragmentation, phacoemulsification, phacotrabeculectomy, repositioning the IOL, and anterior segment revision. We recorded our subjective assessment of the degree of anterior chamber (AC) maintenance and control of the position of the posterior capsule during surgery. We also kept clinical notes of the practical aspects of the procedures. The AC was well maintained in all patients throughout the surgery; posterior position of the posterior capsule was maintained during irrigation/aspiration. Five patients required the use of a viscoelastic agent at some stage. Our subjective assessment is that use of the ACM increased surgical control of the anterior chamber depth and position of the posterior capsule during surgery. Provided that it is used correctly, the ACM may offer increased safety during anterior segment surgery and require less use of viscoelastic agents.

Limbal sub-Tenon's administration of retrobulbar anesthesia using a blunt irrigating cannula.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To eliminate sharp needles when administering local anesthesia to the eye in order to reduce serious complications caused by needle perforation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After topical anesthesia, limbal conjunctival incision, and sub-Tenon's dissection, a retrobulbar irrigation of an equal mixture of bupivacaine (5 mg/ml) and lidocaine (20 mg/ml) was given using a blunt cannula. RESULTS: The technique was used in both vitreoretinal surgery (n = 70) and anterior segment surgery (n = 235) with good analgesic and akinetic effects. No serious adverse were noted. CONCLUSION: This proved to be a safe and efficient technique that abandoned the use of sharp needles.

Drop, then decide approach to topical anesthesia.

I developed an approach to topical anesthesia--drop, then decide--with the goal of increasing the percentage of patients able to have topical anesthesia for anterior segment surgery. This study comprised 150 consecutive surgeries performed using the technique, including cataract extraction with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, trabeculectomy, combined procedures, and McCannel suturing. Six patients also had anterior vitrectomy. Patients were not preselected. All cases were initiated with topical anesthesia and supplemented with at least mild intravenous sedation by an anesthesiologist. The decision on whether to use anesthetic blocks was made after evaluating patient response early in the surgery. The approach had an overall success rate (no regional block needed) of 89.3%; 92.0% of the cataract/IOL implantation cases were successful. Most patients reported they were comfortable throughout the procedure. The success rate was high among patients who may be considered poor candidates for topical anesthesia; younger patients had more difficulty. This approach allows more patients to benefit from the advantages of topical anesthesia over other techniques.

Vitrectomy for pars plana placement of a glaucoma seton.

Trabeculectomy, even with supplemental antifibrosis agents, has a low success rate in controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) in certain cases; ones involving severe anterior-chamber-angle disease are particularly challenging. Ten patients with advanced, non-neovascular glaucoma underwent vitrectomy and pars plana placement of seton implants. The tube was placed through the pars plana sclerotomy in each case because severe anterior chamber angle narrowing, aphakia, or penetrating keratoplasty prevented standard placement. Previous trabeculectomy had failed to control IOP in 9 of the 10 patients. In each, the preoperative IOP was 25 mm Hg or more despite maximal medical therapy. In nine of the patients, the postoperative IOP was 19 mm Hg or less, without pressure-lowering agents. The seton appeared to be functional in all of the cases. Vision remained stable or improved in seven cases, but deteriorated in three due to graft failure, progressive traction retinal detachment, or rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (one case each). Pars plana placement of tubes for glaucoma seton implants should be considered as an alternative to anterior chamber placement in certain cases of refractory glaucoma in which the anterior chamber anatomy has been severely disrupted.

[Autologous transplantation of nasal mucosa after severe chemical and thermal eye burns]. / Autologe Nasenschleimhauttransplantation nach schwersten Verätzungen und Verbrennungen.

BACKGROUND: Extensive conjunctival scarring is common after severe chemical and thermal eye burns. There is often not enough healthy conjunctiva from the other eye available to correct the symblepharons, therefore other autologous tissues have to be transplanted. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From February 1992 until March 1993 13 patients were treated with free nasal mucosal grafts from the inferior turbinates for reconstruction of the fornices. The newly created deep fornices were secured by a silicone band. In 3 patients an Illig plastic shell was used additionally. The surgical treatment was supplemented with an intensive treatment with topical corticosteroids to decrease the inflammatory reaction. RESULTS: The patients were followed for an average of 7-18 months. The interval between the accident and the transplantation ranged from 2-26 months. In 10 patients a reconstruction of the fornices was achieved. In all patients, however, some slight scars could be observed. Postoperative Schirmertest was markedly improved. These results encourage us to plan a penetrating keratoplasty in 7 cases. 3 patients showed a recurrence of the symblepharon 2 months after the transplantation. CONCLUSION: The nasal mucosa graft material is best suited for repair of extensive symblepharon. The advantages of this tissue are the availability of large pieces of mucosa and the transplantation of intraepithelial goblet-cells. Long-term effects are the improvement and stabilisation of the tear film.

[Topical laryngo-tracheal anesthesia and intraocular pressure in anesthesia for ophthalmic surgery]. / Anestesia topica laringo-tracheale e pressione intraoculare in anestesia per la oftalmochirurgia.

OBJECTIVE: The reflex response to orotracheal intubation provokes an increase of arterial pressure accompanied by an increase of chorioides volume and a consequent ocular hypertone. There are several methods to reduce the reflex response due to intubation. One of the most effective is topical anaesthesia of larynx and trachea. Experiments were directed to evaluate the efficacy of topical anaesthesia to reduce the intraocular hypertone due to orotracheal intubation. DESIGN: A prospective randomized mask study was conduct on patients undergoing ophthalmologic (anterior segment) surgery at the Eye Clinic of Florence University. METHODS: Intraocular pressure was measured by a Goldman tonometer at four times: T0 = basal, T1 = 2' minutes after induction of general anaesthesia, T2 = 2' minutes after laryngoscopy, T3 = 2' minutes after orotracheal intubation. At the same moments, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, rate pressure pro duct were measured. Patients were randomly divided in two groups: Group L (n = 10) in which was evaluated the efficacy of laryngotracheal topical spray of lidocaine 4% (2 ml) and Group F (n = 10) in which saline was used instead of anesthetic. The filling of the LTA kit (Abbott) was made by a person not involved in the experiments. DATA ANALYSIS: Student's t test for unpaired data. RESULTS: Topical anaesthesia reduces the increase of intraocular pressure, hypertension and rate pressure product due to intubation. The intraocular pressure reduces to 13% less than basal value in Group L and increase to 50% more than basal value in Group F. CONCLUSION: The topical anaesthesia of larynx and trachea is effective to reduce the intraocular hypertension due to the reflex response evoked by orotracheal intubation.

Peribulbar regional anaesthesia for anterior eye segment surgery.

The technique, the results and the complications for local peribulbar anaesthesia for anterior eye segment surgery are discussed. A personal series of 3,350 cases is analysed. The rare local complications could have been avoided by improving the technique. There were no general complications.

Intravenous sedation for ocular surgery under local anaesthesia.

Anterior segment ophthalmic surgery is commonly performed under local anaesthesia. In order to improve patient comfort, a variety of sedation techniques has been employed in the past. The object of this study was, firstly, to determine whether continuous intravenous sedation during surgery offered any advantages in patients premedicated with temazepam and metoclopramide, and, secondly, to compare midazolam to propofol for this purpose. Forty nine patients were randomly allocated to receive no intravenous sedation (n = 15), continuous propofol infusion (n = 17), or continuous intravenous midazolam infusion (n = 17) after peribulbar anaesthesia. Each technique provided cardiovascular and respiratory stability and allowed early recovery with minimal postoperative sequelae. Unexpected ocular field movement occurred more commonly in the patients receiving intravenous sedation, although statistical significance was not shown (p = 0.06). Significantly more patients in the intravenous sedation groups reported amnesia (p = 0.03). Patient acceptability was good irrespective of the technique used. This study suggests that continuous sedation using propofol or midazolam is not beneficial and should be avoided in ophthalmic patients who have received a simple premedication.

Sub-Tenon's anesthesia for trabeculectomy.

Sub-Tenon's anesthesia for anterior segment surgery avoids the risks associated with retrobulbar and peribulbar injections. Localized injections over the appropriate rectus muscles ensure patient comfort as well as optimal exposure of the surgical field in eyes undergoing trabeculectomy. We have used this technique without significant complications in approximately 400 procedures.

Prospective study of a single-injection peribulbar technique.

The single-injection peribulbar technique is an effective method of obtaining anesthesia and akinesia prior to anterior segment eye surgery. I conducted a prospective study of 2,684 consecutive cases of a particular peribulbar block that I performed for more than three years. The incidence of sight-threatening complications was 0.6%. None of the cases was canceled because of peribulbar hemorrhage. Only 1.2% of the cases required a supplemental injection of anesthesia.