Zeitschrift für klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie
Offener Zugang
ISSN: 2155-9570
ISSN: 2155-9570
Sofia Ramos-Bartolomei, Erick Rivera-Grana, Jan P. Ulloa-Padilla, Marino Blasini-Torres
Objective: To compare tissue thickness over a Glaucoma Drainage Device (GDD) tube in patients with a pericardium graft versus scleral tunnel surgical technique.
Methods: A single center, retrospective case series was performed of thirteen patients (15 eyes; two patients with bilateral procedures). Those included underwent GDD surgery between January 2014 and December 2020 and had two Anterior Segment Optical Coherent Tomography (AS-OCT) images available in their patient chart. Fourteen eyes had an Ahmed® valve placement; one had a Baerveldt® 350. AS-OCT was used to measure tissue thickness above the GDD tube. The patients were subdivided into 2 groups: Group A (scleral tunnel for tube placement) and Group B (pericardium patch above GDD tube). The tissue thickness was compared to see if there were changes from the patient’s first available OCT after surgery, to the second OCT in the patient chart. Tissue thickness differences were also compared between the 2 groups.
Results: Group A initial tissue thickness above the GDD tube was 0.288 ± 0.102 millimeter (mm) and subsequently 0.252 ± 0.111 mm. Mean difference from the first OCT to the second was 0.036 mm. Group B initial tissue thickness above the GDD tube was 0.357 ± 0.0668 mm, and subsequently 0.253 ± 0.0879 mm. Mean difference of the values was 0.104 mm. The comparison between these means results in a t-value of 1.418 with a p value of 0.180.
Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference in mean tissue thickness above a GDD tube with a pericardium graft when compared to a scleral tunnel. There was a statistically significant difference of mean tissue thickness reduction over time in the pericardium patch group B. No statistical difference was found in tissue thickness reduction in group A.