Risk factors for tube exposure as a late complication of glaucoma drainage implant surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for tube exposure after glaucoma drainage implant surgery.


METHODS
This was a retrospective case-controlled observational study of 64 eyes from 64 patients. Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with tube erosion requiring surgical revision were compared with 32 matched control eyes of 32 patients. Univariate and multivariate risk factor analyses were performed.


RESULTS
Mean age was significantly younger in the tube exposure group compared with the control group (48.2±28.1 years versus 67.3±18.0 years, respectively; P=0.003). The proportion of diabetic patients (12.5%) in the tube exposure group was significantly less (P=0.041) compared with the control group (37.5%). Comparisons of the type and position of the drainage implant were not significantly different between the two groups. The average time to tube exposure was 17.2±18.0 months after implantation of the drainage device. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, younger age (P=0.005 and P=0.027) and inflammation prior to tube exposure (P≤0.001 and P=0.004) were significant risk factors. Diabetes was a significant risk factor only in the univariate analysis (P=0.027).


CONCLUSIONS
Younger age and inflammation were significant risk factors for tube exposure after drainage implant surgery.
Department of Ophthalmology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA.
Meenakshi
M
Chaku
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
Peter A
PA
Netland
Department of Ophthalmology, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan.
Kyoko
K
Ishida
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Douglas J
DJ
Rhee
Ahmed Glaucoma Valve; Baerveldt implant; glaucoma drainage implant complications; pericardial patch graft; tube erosion