title: Results of alloplastic tube shunt procedures before, during, or after penetrating keratoplasty.
abstract: The association of glaucoma and penetrating keratoplasty presents a difficult management problem, particularly when medical therapy and conventional glaucoma surgery have failed. We have found alloplastic tube shunt surgery to be an effective method for intraocular pressure control in glaucomatous eyes subjected to penetrating keratoplasty. We report 46 patients who underwent alloplastic tube shunt implantation before (13 patients, group A), in combination with (17 patients, group B), or after (16 patients, group C) penetrating keratoplasty. All groups had significantly lowered intraocular pressure postoperatively. The most common complication was graft failure, in 31% of patients in group A, 29% in group B, and 44% in group C. Other postoperative complications and results including visual outcome are reviewed. Because the management of advanced glaucoma in patients undergoing keratoplasty is difficult, alloplastic tube shunt implantation should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Cornea Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rapuano
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Rajpal
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Raber
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Laibson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kremer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018465:Molteno Implants; D010969:Plastics; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics