Our experience of fibrin sealant-assisted implantation of Ahmed glaucoma valve.

AIM: To report our experience with the fibrin sealant as a suture substitute for securing the human scleral patch graft during implantation of Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A retrospective, non-comparative study of 12 eyes of 12 patients who underwent an AGV implantation with fibrin sealant for part of the procedure during June 2009 to September 2010.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 21.5 ± 20.6 years. Male: Female ratio was 2 : 1. Seven (58.3%) patients were monocular. The indications for AGV were varied. The mean number of intra-ocular surgeries prior to an implantation of AGV was 1.8. The mean follow-up duration was 24.5 ± 17.9 weeks. There was a statistically significant reduction in the mean IOP and in the mean number of anti-glaucoma medications at the final visit compared to the pre-operative values (P < 0.01, paired t test). Conjunctival retraction was seen in 1 (8.3%) case. The scleral patch graft was retracted posteriorly in another (8.3%) case. There was no case of AGV tube exposure, tube-cornea touch, or conjunctival erosion. Vision threatening complication viz. late post-operative rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, unlikely to be related to the use of the fibrin sealant, occurred in 2 (16.6%) eyes.

CONCLUSION

The fibrin sealant offers the advantages of safety and convenience to the placement of a scleral patch graft during an AGV implantation.