Trabeculectomy with an active postoperative regimen: results and resource utilization.

PURPOSE: To evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) and resource utilization after trabeculectomy, using an active postoperative regimen, in a Swedish population.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on the patient charts of all patients who underwent trabeculectomy in a Swedish university hospital during 1 year (November 2000-December 2001). Trabeculectomy was performed in 34 eyes and trabeculectomy in combination with phacoemulsification in 10 eyes. Intraocular pressure, visual acuity, complications and numbers of injections of 5-fluorouracil, suture removal, needling procedures and visits to ophthalmologists were recorded for 2 years.

RESULTS

Mean IOP before surgery was 30.4 mmHg (standard deviation [SD] 9.5) in eyes with capsular glaucoma and 28.7 mmHg (SD 9.3) in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma. Mean IOP after 2 years was 15.3 mmHg (SD 3.9) in all eyes. Intraocular pressure of < 18 mmHg was achieved in 65% of the eyes after 2 years, as was IOP < or = 13 mmHg in 37%. Flap or suture manipulation was performed in 41 of 44 eyes. Needling procedures were carried out a mean of 2.3 times in 31 eyes. The mean number of visits to an ophthalmologist was 14.1 during the first postoperative year and 4.4 during the second.

CONCLUSIONS

The results were encouraging, with few complications and modest resource utilization.