Comparison of fornix- and limbus-based conjunctival flaps in mitomycin C trabeculectomy with laser suture lysis in Japanese glaucoma patients.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the results of mitomycin C (MMC) trabeculectomy and laser suture lysis using either fornix-based (FB) or limbus-based (LB) conjunctival flaps.


METHODS
Eighty-two Japanese glaucoma patients were treated by MMC trabeculectomy, with 38 eyes receiving an FB conjunctival flap and 44 eyes receiving an LB conjunctival flap. Postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), the probability of success, and complications were compared between the FB and LB groups.


RESULTS
The IOP of the FB group decreased from 21.6+/-7.90 mmHg to 9.75+/-3.23 mmHg at 12 months postoperation, and the IOP of the LB group decreased from 21.3+/-6.77 mmHg to 9.30+/-3.16 mmHg. The postoperative IOPs were similar in the two groups at all postoperative time points. A life-table analysis (Kaplan-Meier method) showed that the survival rate was similar in the two groups but tended to be lower in the early postoperative period in the FB group. Complications were similar also, with the exception of increased leakage in the FB group.


CONCLUSIONS
MMC trabeculectomy results were similar between FB and LB conjunctival flaps, in agreement with previous reports. However, increased care may be warranted when an FB flap is used in MMC trabeculectomy.
Fukuchi
Takeo
T
Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan. tfuku@med.niigata-u.ac.jp.
Ueda
Jun
J
Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
Yaoeda
Kiyoshi
K
Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
Suda
Kieko
K
Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
Seki
Masaaki
M
Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
Abe
Haruki
H
Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000379:methods*; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016685:Mitomycin