Complications of Baerveldt glaucoma drainage implants.
OBJECTIVE
To report the incidence and identify risk factors of postoperative complications after Baerveldt glaucoma drainage implantation.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the medical records of all patients at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Fla, who underwent placement of a Baerveldt glaucoma drainage implant from October 1, 1992, through October 31, 1996, to determine demographic characteristics, preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressures, and complications. Variables were analyzed using the Student t test and Fisher exact test to determine the association between delayed postoperative suprachoroidal hemorrhage and various potential risk factors.


RESULTS
A total of 107 eyes of 103 patients were identified. Suprachoroidal hemorrhage occurred in 4 eyes (4%), with onset ranging from 3 to 33 days after implantation. Two eyes (2%) had choroidal effusions requiring surgical drainage, and 20 eyes (19%) had low choroidal effusions requiring only close observation. Tube blockage was observed in 5 eyes (5%). Four eyes (4%) had aqueous misdirection, 2 eyes (2%) had corneal decompensation, and 1 eye (1%) each had endophthalmitis, tube migration, corneal ulcer, hyphema, and implant migration. Patients who were older (P=.04) or had postoperative choroidal effusions (P=.03), low intraocular pressure immediately after the tube opened (P=.03), hypertension (P= .08), or atherosclerosis (P=.09) were more likely to develop suprachoroidal hemorrhage.


CONCLUSIONS
A lower incidence of serious postoperative complications was observed in Baerveldt implantations in this study when compared with a recent report. Risk factors for serious complications were similar to trabeculectomy.
Nguyen
Q H
QH
Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Fla 33101, USA.
Budenz
D L
DL
Parrish
R K
RK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002832:Choroid Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014821:Vitrectomy