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Results of another modality for extending glaucoma drainage tubes
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0284, USA.
Purpose:
For a variety of reasons, on rare occasions a surgeon needs to reposition the intraocular portion of a glaucoma drainage implant tube, but finds the tube "too short" to do so. This study describes results of a different technique for "extending" the tube (rather than replacing the entire apparatus).
Methods:
Four eyes of four patients required a tube "extender," for either tube tip blockage associated with uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP; n = 3), or to avoid total seton replacement after tube "cheesewiring" (n = 1). An extender was fashioned from common angiocatheter material. Postoperative complications, IOP, and need for further surgery were reviewed.
Results:
None of the four patients required further, more invasive surgery or experienced any related postoperative complications. Final IOP averaged 11.5 +/- 4.2 mmHg (range 6-16 mmHg).
Conclusion:
Tube extension using angiocatheter material is a viable, cost-effective option in these difficult cases, saving the surgeon from having to explant and replace the entire implant.