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Abstract #79865 Published in IGR 20-2
Scheduled Postoperative Ripcord Removal in Baerveldt 350 Implants: A Prospective, Randomized Trial
An SJ; Wen JC; Quist MS; Mathenge EW; Vin A; Herndon LWJournal of Glaucoma 2019; 28: 165-171
PURPOSE: Many surgeons remove the ripcord in the Baerveldt glaucoma drainage device to better control tube opening and intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering postoperatively. However, complications following Baerveldt implant surgery with or without ripcord removal are not well-characterized. We performed a prospective, randomized trial to test the hypothesis that scheduled ripcord removal decreases complications and final IOP. METHODS: Eighty-one patients were enrolled and randomized to scheduled ripcord removal at postoperative week 3 or to observation. They were followed for 6 months, and outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Forty-four patients were randomized to scheduled ripcord removal and 37 to observation. The intervention group had a similar rate of total complications after ripcord removal (36% vs. 24%, P=0.24), a lower rate of tube fibrin obstruction (2.3% vs. 13.5%, P=0.05), and a larger decrease in the number of medications (1.3 vs. 0.49 fewer medications, P=0.01). The removal group's mean IOP decrease was 8.6 mm Hg and success rate was 59%, defined as 5 mm Hg Duke University School of Medicine. 12.8.2 With tube implant or other drainage devices (Part of: 12 Surgical treatment > 12.8 Filtering surgery)Classification:
