Long-term Follow-up after Trabeculectomy with Mitomycin c

ABSTRACT

Intraoperative mitomycin c has been popularized for use as an adjuvant to increase the success rate of trabeculectomy because of its antifibroblastic effects. Basically it has a potent antifibroblastic effect and its use presents many potential problems and side effects. As a result, many surgeons concentrate on method to gain the optimal surgical results with the minimal complications with MMC. But the long-term effects of MMC have not been determined because of its short history of clinical applications. So, we evaluated the surgical results and complications of MMC in a long-term follow-up study (more than 30 months) , which was divided into 4 groups by the use of MMC and the high-risk characteristics. A total of 135 eyes were studied. Each group included: A, 40 eyes; B, 17 eyes; C, 52 eyes; D, 26 eyes. Failed filtering surgery and young age were major factors in high-risk groups. In high-risk groups (A, B), the difference in success rates was statistically significant A(M+), 88.5%; B(M-), 52.9% (p=0.010), but in non-high risk groups (C, D), it was not: C(M+), 75%; D(M-), 76.9% (p=0.852). The difference in isual acuity (more than 3 lines in a snellen chart) between each groups was not shown. And in non-high risk groups (C, D), the difference in the hypotony rate was statistically significant C(M+), 21%; D(M-), 49% (p=0.046), but in high-risk groups, it was not: A(M+), 15%; B(M-), 11% (p=0.748). Regardless of the preoperative IOP level, postoperative IOP was less in cases where MMC was used than in cases where MMC was not used. In conclusion, MMC increased the success rate in high-risk groups but it aggravated complications, especially in non-high risk groups. To get optimal results with minimal complications, discreet use of MMC in selected cases is highly recorninended.