TRABECULECTOMY

A COMPARISON BETWEEN PRESSURE PATCHING AND BLEB REPAIR IN MANAGEMENT OF EARLY ONSET LEAKING BLEB

Abstract

Objective: To compare the final outcome of management of early bleb leak after trabeculectomy by
pressure patching versus bleb stitch repair. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology Allied hospital/ Punjab Medical
College Faisalabad. Study Design: Interventional Therapeutic Trial and prospective. Period: May 1999 to July 2003.
Materials and Methods: 110 glaucoma patients who developed complications after trabeculectomy were included in
the study. The occurrence of relative frequency of various complications was noted. Out of these 110 patients, 44
patients having early wound leak were further selected for the study. They were divided into two groups A and B. A
was treated with pressure patching for 48 hrs while B was treated with stitch repair with 10 0/0 Nylon. The final outcome
of the results of management was noted and compared. Results: the frequency of various complications after
trabeculectomy in 110 patients were found to be early wound leak 43.64 %, failed trabeculectomy 38.18%, hyphema
6.36%, cataract 3.64%, blebitis 3.64%, tenon’s cyst 1.82%, malignant glaucoma 1.82%, scleral flap disinsertion 0.9%.
The success rate in Group A was 59.1% while in Group B it was 86.4% while the failure rate remained in Group A
40.9% while in Group B 13.6%. Conclusion: The success rate for managing wound leak after trabeculectomy was
better in repairing the bleb as compared to pressure patching (significant at p< 0.05).