Deep sclerectomy in pediatric glaucoma filtering surgery

Abstract

Purpose: To study the additive value of deep sclerectomy to the procedure of combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (CTTM) for the treatment of primary congenital glaucoma.

Study design: This study is a prospective, randomized case series.

Patients and methods: The study was conducted on 20 eyes of 20 children with primary congenital glaucoma presenting to the Department of Ophthalmology of the Alexandria Main University Hospital. Preoperative examination under anesthesia was followed by surgical intervention. Postoperative examinations were conducted immediately after surgery and at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Intraoperative and postoperative complications, as well as operative time, were recorded.

Results: The mean (±SD, range) age of the study patients in the CTTM group and in the combined trabeculotomy-trabeculectomy with mitomycin C with deep sclerectomy (CTTM-DS) group was 4.7 (±2.0, 2-8) and 7.0 (±3.8, 3-13) months, respectively. The mean (±SD, range) preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) in the CTTM and CTTM-DS groups was 16.7 (4.3, 10-26) and 16.4 (8.4, 8-36), respectively, and these dropped at 12 months of follow-up to 4.9 (2.0, 2-8) and 5.6 (3.3, 2-10), respectively. The mean (±SD, range) of the duration of the operation in the CTTM and the CTTM-DS was 57 (±8, 50-71) min and 53 (±7, 42-64) min, respectively (P=0.428). Two eyes (20%) in the CTTM-DS group developed hypotony disc edema at the first 2 months and resolved spontaneously thereafter. No other complications were noted in either of the groups.

Conclusion: The addition of deep sclerectomy to the procedure of CTTM in pediatric glaucoma surgery facilitates the finding of Schlemm's canal, shortens the duration of surgery, and is not associated with any additional complications. Hence, the author recommends the addition of deep sclerectomy to CTTM surgery for primary congenital glaucoma.