title: Membrane-tube-type glaucoma shunt device for refractory glaucoma surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel membrane-tube (MT)-type glaucoma shunt device for refractory glaucoma surgery. The device consists of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membranous reservoir, as well as a silicone tube (300-μm external and 200-μm internal diameter) with an intraluminal stent. We named the device "Finetube MT".
  
  
  METHODS
  The Finetube MT was implanted into 44 glaucomatous eyes that had insufficient intraocular pressure (IOP) control despite medical treatment or previous trabeculectomy. The membranous reservoir was placed underneath the Tenon's capsule, with each end located below the recti muscles; the tube was placed in the anterior chamber through a partial-thickness scleral track. We investigated the baseline and post-operative IOP values, the number of IOP-lowering medications used, and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the subjects was 51.6 ± 17.2 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 22.5 ± 12.0 months. One year after the surgery, the mean IOP had decreased from 32.8 ± 12.2 mmHg to 16.9 ± 6.4 mmHg (48.5 % reduction; p < 0.01), and the mean number of IOP-lowering medications used had decreased from 2.5 ± 0.8 to 1.1 ± 0.9 (p < 0.01). We considered the surgery as a success when the IOP was between 6 and 21 mmHg, and had been reduced by ≥ 20 % from baseline; by this standard, the success rate was 92.4 % after 1 year, and 85.0 % after 3 years. Neither postoperative ocular hypotony-related complications nor tube exposure occurred in any case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Finetube MT showed promising surgical outcomes as a treatment for refractory glaucoma, with minimal risk of postoperative ocular hypotony or tube-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Konyang University, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, #156 Youngdeungpo-dong 4ga, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 150-034, South Korea. brainh@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Young Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Konyang University, Kim's Eye Hospital, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, #156 Youngdeungpo-dong 4ga, Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul, 150-034, South Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Heon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012590:Sclera / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
keywords: Glaucoma; Glaucoma drainage device; Intraocular pressure; Surgery; Trabeculectomy