Anterior chamber maintenance during drainage of a suprachoroidal hemorrhage in two phakic eyes.
OBJECTIVE
The authors describe a technique for hemorrhage drainage following glaucoma surgery that uses an anterior chamber maintainer to minimize risk to the anterior lens capsule.


METHODS
Two patients had suprachoroidal hemorrhages following filtration surgery. Because their eyes were phakic, an anterior chamber maintainer, as opposed to a 23-gauge butterfly needle, was used for aqueous replacement during hemorrhage drainage.


RESULTS
The maintainer provided a stable anterior chamber environment during both drainage procedures. No damage to anterior chamber structures occurred, and the postoperative course was unremarkable in both patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a sharp-tipped infusion cannula may be contraindicated for the phakic patient who has a suprachoroidal hemorrhage. The anterior chamber maintainer is a useful alternative instrument in such cases.
Birt
C M
CM
Sunnybrook Health Science Centre, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Berger
A R
AR
D000328:Adult; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002404:Catheterization; D002832:Choroid Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000075202:Contraindications; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D018463:Filtering Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007908:Lens, Crystalline; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014792:Visual Acuity