Clinical results with the Trabectome, a novel surgical device for treatment of open-angle glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To describe treatment outcomes after Trabectome surgery in an initial series of 101 patients with open-angle glaucoma.


METHODS
A 19-gauge microelectrosurgical device enabled ab interno removal of a strip of trabecular meshwork and inner wall of Schlemm's canal under gonioscopic control with continual infusion and foot-pedal control of aspiration and electrosurgery. A smooth, pointed ceramic-coated insulating footplate was inserted into Schlemm's canal to act as a guide within the canal and to protect adjacent structures from mechanical or heat injury during ablation of a 30- to 90-degree arc of angle tissue.


RESULTS
Mean preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) in the initial 101 patients was 27.6 +/- 7.2 mm Hg. Thirty months postoperatively, mean IOP was 16.3 +/- 3.3 mm Hg (n = 11). The mean percentage drop over the whole course of follow-up was 40%. At all times postoperatively, the absolute and percent decrease in IOP from preoperative levels were statistically significant (paired t test, P < .0001). Overall success (IOP </= 21 mm Hg with or without medications and no subsequent surgery) was 84%. Nine eyes subsequently underwent trabeculectomy, two others had IOP greater than 21 mm Hg in spite of resuming topical medications, and the rest of the patients either refused to resume medications or were still in the 1-month postoperative period without medications (total failure rate including trabeculectomies, 16/101 = 16%). Intraoperative reflux bleeding occurred in 100% of cases. Complications have been minimal and not vision-threatening.


CONCLUSIONS
The Trabectome facilitates minimally invasive and effective glaucoma surgery, which spares the conjunctiva and does not preclude subsequent standard filtering procedures.
Minckler
Don
D
University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Baerveldt
George
G
Ramirez
Marina Alfaro
MA
Mosaed
Sameh
S
Wilson
Richard
R
Shaarawy
Tarek
T
Zack
Barend
B
Dustin
Laurie
L
Francis
Brian
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000601:surgery*; D006068:Gonioscopy; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000601:surgery*; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome