Reoperations for Complications Within 90 Days After Glaucoma Surgery.

Objective

To describe reoperations in the operating room for complications encountered within 90 days after glaucoma surgery at a single institution over a 2-year period.

Design

Retrospective case series.

Subjects

Adult patients who have undergone glaucoma surgery including a tube shunt, trabeculectomy with mitomycin C, trabectome, or transcleral cyclophotocoagulation from June 1, 2015 to August 30, 2017 at a single institution.

Methods

These patients were then examined for postoperative complications that required reoperations within the first 90 days including revision of the tube shunt, revision of the trabeculectomy, drainage of the choroidal, or placement of a tube shunt.

Main outcome measures

Percentage of reoperations for complications within the first 90 days after glaucoma surgery and surgical indications for these reoperations.

Results

A total of 622 glaucoma procedures were performed on 600 eyes in 525 patients over a 2-year period from June 1, 2015 to June 30, 2017 by 4 glaucoma surgeons at a single institution. Of these, 275 (44%) were trabeculectomy with mitomycin C, 253 (41%) were the placement of a tube shunt, 33 (5%) were cyclophotocoagulation, and 61 (10%) were trabectome procedures. Postoperative complications requiring reoperations within 90 days developed in 15 patients (2.4%) overall including 7 patients (2.5%) in the trabeculectomy with mitomycin C group and 8 patients (3.1%) in the tube shunt group. Five patients developed bleb leaks, 3 patients developed serous choroidal effusions, 3 patients had tube exposure, 1 patient had tube retraction, 1 patient had persistent iritis from iris touching the tube, and 1 had encapsulation around the tube. The rate of reoperation for complications was similar between the tube group and the trabeculectomy group (P=0.67, χ test). There were no complications requiring reoperations in 90 days for transcleral cyclophotocoagulation or trabectome.

Conclusions

Early postoperative complications requiring reoperations within the first 90 days after glaucoma surgery were low and comparable with previous studies. Common indications for reoperation within 90 days include wound leak and tube shunt-related issues.