Tube extender for revision of glaucoma drainage implants.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate the clinical experience with a glaucoma drainage implant tube extender.


METHODS
This was a noncomparative retrospective case series of 10 patients treated with a Tube Extender (New World Medical, Inc, Rancho Cucamonga, CA), with average follow-up of 23 months.


RESULTS
The majority of patients (n=7) were treated for tube retraction, 1 had kinked tube, 1 had tube exposure and malposition, and 1 had inadvertently cut tube. Implant types included the Ahmed glaucoma valve (n=7), Molteno implant (n=2), and Baerveldt implant (n=1). The mean intraocular pressure and number of glaucoma medications were significantly reduced postoperatively (P=0.007 and 0.001, respectively). Intraocular pressure or glaucoma medications decreased in 9 patients, and all patients achieved surgical success.


CONCLUSIONS
The Tube Extender is a useful device when the tubes of glaucoma drainage implants from different manufacturers require lengthening.
Sarkisian
Steven R
SR
Department of Ophthalmology, Hamilton Eye Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
Netland
Peter A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007440:Intubation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity