Pericardium Patch Graft (Tutoplast) for Bleb Repair and Bleb Remodelling After Nonpenetrating Filtering Surgery: 6-Month Outcomes.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of pericardium patch graft (Tutoplast) as an adjuvant to either bleb repair or bleb reduction after nonpenetrating filtering surgery.

METHODS

Retrospective study, at a tertiary glaucoma center. Bleb revision with Tutoplast positioning was performed either for bleb repair to treat early leaks or hypotony with maculopathy, either for bleb reduction to improve ocular pain, discomfort, burning, foreign body sensation, tearing, and fluctuations of visual acuity. Intraocular pressure (IOP), best corrected visual acuity, number of antiglaucoma medications, and postoperative complications were analyzed postoperatively at 1 week, 1, 3, 6 months, and compared with the preoperative baseline. Surgical success was defined as achieving an IOP between 8 and 16 mm Hg.

RESULTS

Six-month data were available from 15 eyes of 15 patients; mean patient age was 69.6±11.7 (66.7% male). Bleb revision was necessary for 10 patients due to bleb dysesthesia (bleb reduction), and in 5 patients due to leaking filtering bleb (bleb repair). The success rate was 73.3% at 6 months, with a significant IOP increase from 4.9±2.2 mm Hg preoperatively to 12.7±3.5 mm Hg at 6 months (P=0.0001), and a concomitant rise of best corrected visual acuity from 0.5±0.3 to 0.6±0.3 (P=0.2871). To control IOP, antiglaucoma medications were needed for 3 patients (20%) at 6 months. Overall, 3 patients (20%) required additional bleb revision for persistent hypotony, and 1 patient underwent a subsequent glaucoma surgery (transscleral cyclodestruction).

CONCLUSION

Pericardium patch graft (Tutoplast) is a safe and effective adjuvant for bleb revision due to bleb dysesthesia of leaking filtering bleb after nonpenetrating filtering surgery.