Application of handheld cautery for reduction of symptomatic circumferential trabeculectomy blebs.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a new, in-office procedure for limiting symptomatic, circumferential conjunctival blebs occurring after trabeculectomy.


METHODS
Two eyes of 2 patients status postfornix-based trabeculectomy with mitomycin C were found to have symptomatic circumferential blebs.


METHODS
Risks and benefits of cautery were discussed, along with alternatives including continued conservative treatment or surgical revision. The patients opted for in-office cautery. Two eyes of 2 patients underwent cauterization of their blebs with a Bovie high temperature handheld cautery in the office after topical pretreatment with 2.5% neosynephrine and 4% xylocaine. Excess fluid was drained from the bleb by expression through the puncture wounds. The wounds were Seidel negative immediately after the treatment.


RESULTS
Flattening of the bleb occurred instantly, patients did not experience pain and their symptoms related to the extensive bleb resolved. The functioning of the bleb was not altered in these 2 cases by this procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Early results show that handheld cautery may be a useful means of treating symptomatic circumferential blebs.
Schwartz
Arthur L
AL
Georgetown University/Washington Hospital Center, USA.
Albano
Marissa
M
D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D001768:Blister / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014130:Trabeculectomy
D016685:Mitomycin