title: Biodegradable implant for tissue repair after glaucoma drainage device surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a novel technique using biodegradable material to cover exposed glaucoma tube shunts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case report of a single patient who underwent drainage tube shunt surgery with the Baerveldt drainage device for intractable glaucoma. Four months post operation the tube became exposed through necrosis of the overlying scleral flap and conjunctiva. The defect was repaired by fixation of the tube to the sclera, with a slice of an ologen implant as a patch, covered by the adjacent conjunctiva. The patient was followed over a period of 1 year after the surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Successful, lasting closure of the conjunctival defect was achieved without any side effects or complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Erosion of the drainage tube after shunt surgery is a potentially serious problem. It can be successfully managed using a biodegradable implant as a patch before closing the conjunctiva.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bad Tölz. andre.rosentreter@googlemail.com
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosentreter
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schild
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dinslage
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Dietlein
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000601:surgery*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D033401:Microscopy, Acoustic; D009336:Necrosis; D011108:Polymers; D012590:Sclera / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D011108:Polymers; C058506:collagen-glycosaminoglycan copolymer; D003094:Collagen