5-Fluorouracil and Scleral Flap Splitting After Trabeculectomy

ABSTRACT

We introduced a method of splitting the lamellar scleral flap (LSF) after trabeculectomy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to evaluate the postoperative wound strength which may reveal directly the anti proliferative effect of 5-FU. An 8-0 nylon sture was placed under the LSF at the time of trabeculectomy and both ends of the suture were drawn out from the conjunctiva. The wound strength was evaluated by pulling out the spitting suture at the end of second week after operation. Seventeen eyes of 16 patients underwent a primary trabeculectomy and placement of a splitting suture. 5-fU was injected subconjunctivally, 5mg every other day in the eyes during postoperative two weeks. Five (50%) of ten eyes of 5-FU group resulted in LSF splitting (p=0.0407, Fisher's exact test). This result may signify that the LSF splitting suture technique will be a helpful means to investigate the effect of post-trabeculectomy wound healing modulators in the early period postoperatively.