Ab interno suture tube occlusion of the Baerveldt glaucoma implant for management of postoperative hypotony: A case series

Abstract

Purpose: Delayed hypotony can be a vision threatening complication following aqueous shunt surgery in patients with glaucoma. Multiple medical and surgical management strategies have been utilized, but results have been inconsistent. The present case series describes management of delayed hypotony associated with the Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BGI) by surgically introducing 4-0 polypropylene suture into the tube lumen. Observations: The cases of four patients who presented with hypotony following BGI surgery were reviewed. Following BGI tube lumen occlusion with suture, sustained intraocular pressure increase (mean 7.25 mmHg, range 4–14) was noted in all patients and visual acuity improved in three cases. Conclusions and importance: This is the first report of ab interno suture occlusion of the BGI for management of post-operative hypotony. Further studies are required to determine the utility of this procedure, but our results suggest that in select patients, ab interno suture occlusion be advantageous in managing delayed hypotony refractive to medical therapy.

Keywords

• Aqueous shunt
• Baerveldt glaucoma implant
• Glaucoma
• Hypotony