Trabeculectomy with an active postoperative regimen: results and resource utilization.

Purpose: To evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) and resource utilization after trabeculectomy, using an active postoperative regimen, in a Swedish population.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the patient charts of all patients who underwent trabeculectomy in a Swedish university hospital during 1 year (November 2000-December 2001). Trabeculectomy was performed in 34 eyes and trabeculectomy in combination with phacoemulsification in 10 eyes. Intraocular pressure, visual acuity, complications and numbers of injections of 5-fluorouracil, suture removal, needling procedures and visits to ophthalmologists were recorded for 2 years.

Results: Mean IOP before surgery was 30.4 mmHg (standard deviation [SD] 9.5) in eyes with capsular glaucoma and 28.7 mmHg (SD 9.3) in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma. Mean IOP after 2 years was 15.3 mmHg (SD 3.9) in all eyes. Intraocular pressure of < 18 mmHg was achieved in 65% of the eyes after 2 years, as was IOP < or = 13 mmHg in 37%. Flap or suture manipulation was performed in 41 of 44 eyes. Needling procedures were carried out a mean of 2.3 times in 31 eyes. The mean number of visits to an ophthalmologist was 14.1 during the first postoperative year and 4.4 during the second.

Conclusions: The results were encouraging, with few complications and modest resource utilization.