A prospective randomized study of medications after silicone intubation.
OBJECTIVE
Following silicone intubation, most surgeons prescribe either an antibiotic or an antibiotic-steroid combination medication. No known controlled study has been performed to determine whether steroids in addition to antibiotics improve the postoperative outcome.


METHODS
The author performed a prospective randomized study of 108 patients (118 eyes) who underwent silicone intubation over a period of 4 1/2 years. Sixty-seven patients received a combination of neomycin, polymyxin B, and dexamethasone and 41 patients received gentamicin for 2 weeks after surgery. A standardized surgical technique and instruments were used. Follow-up ranged from 8 to 44 months (average 19 months).


RESULTS
No statistically significant difference was found in the failure rates when patients treated with an antibiotic-steroid combination were compared with those treated with antibiotic alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Following silicone intubation, there appears to be no additional benefit of an antibiotic-steroid combination medication over an antibiotic alone.
Liu
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University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005477:Fluprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007440:Intubation; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009355:Neomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011112:Polymyxin B / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012826:Silicone Elastomers
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005839:Gentamicins; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; C049064:Maxitrol; D005477:Fluprednisolone; D009355:Neomycin; D011112:Polymyxin B