title: Effectiveness of intra-operative and post-operative use of 5-fluorouracil in trabeculectomy--a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The success rate of trabeculectomy is limited by postoperative scarring.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of intra-operative and post-operative use of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in trabeculectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty consecutive eyes undergoing trabeculectomy were randomized systematically into 3 groups of ten patients each. Group A served as a control; in Group B intraoperative 5-FU was used, whereas Group C received post-operative sub-conjunctival 5-FU. The variables studied were pre- and post-operative intraocular pressure, post-operative bleb characteristics and complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were evaluated using the SPSS ver 10.0 program. ANOVA, paired t test and chi2 tests were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The means of age in years of patients in group A, B and C were 49 +/- 9.23, 56.50 +/- 8.39 and 52.10 +/- 8.96 respectively (p = 0.222). The means of pre-operative IOP in groups A, B and C were 37.80 +/- 10 mmHg, 42.00 +/- 11.22 mmHg and 29.40 +/- 12.82 mmHg respectively. The medians of pre-operative anterior chamber depth (ACD) in groups B and C were 3 and 2 in group A according to van Herrick's grading. The mean values of final IOP were 11.90 +/- 3.50, 11.70 +/- 4.24, 11.00 +/- 2.83 mmHg (p = 0.841). The median post-operative anterior chamber depth in all the groups was similar compared to the pre-operative anterior chamber depth (p = 0.510). The final bleb scores in all the groups were similar (p = 0.873).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intra-operative and post-operative use of 5-FU in trabeculectomy is almost equally effective in terms of IOP control and bleb characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. prasannaashrestha@hotmail.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malla
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D014130:Trabeculectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D005472:Fluorouracil