Baerveldt glaucoma implant in paediatric patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BGI) in paediatric glaucoma treatment.


METHODS
In a retrospective non-comparative case series 55 eyes of 40 consecutive paediatric patients (< or =16 years) with primary or secondary glaucoma underwent Baerveldt (350 mm2) implantation. Surgical outcome was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier table analysis.


RESULTS
The overall success rate was 80% at last follow up, with a mean follow up of 32 (range 2-78) months. Cumulative success was 94% at 12 months and 24 months, 85% at 36 months, 78% at 48 months, and 44% at 60 months. 11 eyes (20%) failed postoperatively because of an IOP >21 mm Hg (eight eyes), persistent hypotony (two eyes), and choroidal haemorrhage following cataract surgery (one eye). The most frequent complication needing surgery was tube related (20%). A new observation was mild to moderate dyscoria in 22% of the eyes, all buphthalmic, caused by entrapment of a tuft of peripheral iris in the tube track.


CONCLUSIONS
The BGI is effective and safe in the management of primary and secondary glaucoma. When angle surgery has proved to be unsuccessful or inappropriate in paediatric patients, a BGI is a good treatment option. One must be prepared to deal with the tube related problems.
The Rotterdam Eye Hospital, Schiedamse Vest 180, 3011 BH Rotterdam, Netherlands.
K A
KA
van Overdam
J T H N
JT
de Faber
H G
HG
Lemij
P W T
PW
de Waard
D000293:Adolescent; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018463:Filtering Surgery / Q000379:methods; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000151:congenital / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents