The Early Postoperative Complications of Two Different Tube Ligation Methods in Baerveldt Implant Surgery

Objective: To investigate the early postoperative complications in two different tube ligation methods during the first 3 months in Baerveldt implant surgery. Participants: This study involved 157 eyes from 144 patients who underwent Baerveldt Implant Surgery at the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan. Methods: Pre- and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), combined surgery, postoperative time-point of tube ligation release, and postoperative complications in two different tube ligation methods [absorbable ligation method using 8-0 polyglactin suture (group A) and nonabsorbable ligation method using 7-0 nylon suture (group B)] were retrospectively reviewed. Results: After excluding eyes that had undergone combined trabeculectomy (26 eyes) and vitrectomy (2 eyes), eyes with previous tube surgery (22 eyes), and eyes that had undergone the stent method (1 eye), 30 of 28 patients in group A and 71 eyes of 71 patients in group B were found to fit the criteria of this study. The rate of successful surgical outcome was 80% in group A and 74.6% in group B (p = 0.705). During the 3 months postoperative, high IOP tended to occur more often in group B (67.6%) than in group A (46.7%) (p = 0.073), and ciliochoroidal detachment tended to occur more often in group A (10.0%) than group B (2.8%) (p = 0.154). Conclusion: The results of this study show that both ligation methods are effective, however, the selection of tube ligation method should be done in accordance with the different method-specific risks to which may occur. How to cite this article: Kawamorita S, Hamanaka T, Sakurai T. The Early Postoperative Complications of Two Different Tube Ligation Methods in Baerveldt Implant Surgery. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2014;8(3):96-100.