An Effects of Needling Revision for Failing Filteration Blebs after Trabeculectomy

ABSTRACT

We investigated the outcome of needling revision with adjunctive subconjunctival 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) injection performed on 20 eyes of 20 consecutive glaucoma patients with failed filtering blebs. Follow-up time was 44.5+/-53.9 weeks from the first needling revision and 31.8+/-43.5 weeks from the last needling procedures. We divided the patients into the success group and the failed group depending on the change of the intraocular pressure(IOP) after needling, and analysed the multi-factors which influenced the success rate of needling by logistic regression analysis. Thirteen(65%) of the eyes were classified treatment success after 1.6+/-0.8 needling revision, with a mean intraocular presure(IOP) of 19.8+/-1.9mmHg on 1.1+/-0.9 medications, significantly lower mean IOP and number of medications than before the procedure(28.1+/-15.7mmHg [P<0.01, paired t-test]). Needling revision with adjunctive 5-FU appears to be a safe and effective means of reestablished filtration.