Laser suture lysis or releasable sutures after trabeculectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy and complication rates of laser suture lysis (LSL) or releasable sutures techniques after trabeculectomy.


METHODS
Forty-eight eyes of 43 consecutive patients with uncomplicated glaucoma who were recruited for primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 and group 2 comprised 27 and 21 eyes that were randomly assigned to a standard surgery and releasable suture groups, respectively. A target intraocular pressure (IOP) had been determined on the basis of the severity of the glaucoma and was called a complete success, qualified success, or failure.


RESULTS
In group 1, the mean change in IOP after LSL was 7.31+/-1.98 mm Hg, 6.1+/-1.1 mm Hg, and 3.9+/-1.5 mm Hg when sutures were lysed on the first, second, and third months. In group 2, the mean change in IOP after releasable suture removed was 8.20+/-2.74 mm Hg, 5.12+/-1.65 mm Hg, and 4.4+/-1.0 mm Hg when sutures were released at the first, second, and third months. At the end of 6 months, the success (complete and qualified success) rates were 92% and 90% for LSL and releasable suture groups, respectively. There was no statistically significant differences in success (P>0.05) and complication (P>0.05) rates between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed an effective IOP reduction in eyes that had suture release both in the early and late postoperative periods after LSL and suture release. We believe that both the laserable and releasable suture techniques can be preferred to permanent sutures for closing scleral flaps in primary trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C in uncomplicated glaucoma.
Aykan
Umit
U
Gumussuyu Military Hospital, Eye Service, Istanbul, Turkey. umitaykan@yahoo.com
Bilge
Ahmet Hamdi
AH
Akin
Tugrul
T
Certel
Ismail
I
Bayer
Atilla
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000502:physiology; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014130:Trabeculectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000477:Alkylating Agents; D016685:Mitomycin