Outcomes of XEN Gel Stent Implantation in the Inferonasal Quadrant after Failed Trabeculectomy

Aim and objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of XEN stent implantation in the inferonasal quadrant after prior failed trabeculectomy.

Materials and methods

Fourteen open-angle glaucoma patients with prior failed trabeculectomy were recruited to this retrospective study. Implantation of the stent was performed as a stand-alone procedure. The mean follow-up duration was 14.2 months. Best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), number of medications, complications, and the requirement for additional procedures were among the outcome measures recorded.

Results

Mean IOP reduced by 49.3% from 24.14 ± 2.74 mm Hg preoperatively to 12.23 ± 2.89 mm Hg at month 12 (p < 0.001). Medication usage reduced from 3.71 ± 0.47 medications preoperatively to 1.31 ± 1.55 at month 12 (p = 0.003). Adverse events included transient slight intracameral hemorrhage (5 eyes, 35.7%), second trabeculectomy required (2 eyes, 14.3%), and numerical hypotony (IOP <5 mm Hg, in 3 cases, 21.4%), all of which resolved spontaneously. Six eyes (42.8%) required postoperative bleb needling to further reduce IOP. There were no cases of vision loss, stent exposure, hypotony, lower eyelid malposition, bleb dysesthesia, or bleb-related infection.

Conclusion

XEN gel stent implantation in the inferonasal quadrant can be considered a viable surgical option for patients with a history of previously failed trabeculectomy requiring further IOP lowering.

Clinical significance

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case series describing the outcome of inferonasal implantation of XEN gel stent following failed trabeculectomy.

How to cite this article

Düzgün E, Olgun A, Karapapak M, et al. Outcomes of XEN Gel Stent Implantation in the Inferonasal Quadrant after Failed Trabeculectomy. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2021;15(2):64–69.

Purtscher-Like Retinopathy Associated with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

A 25-year-old woman presented with acute bilateral blurred vision and history of headache, dizziness, and syncope for three days. Her visual acuity was 20/60 in both eyes. Fundoscopy revealed multiple bilateral peripapillary yellow-white patches like cotton wool spots, intraretinal hemorrhages and macular edema. The patient was diagnosed with Purtscher-like retinopathy based on the retinal findings and lack of trauma history. She was urgently admitted to the nephrology clinic due to thrombotic microangiopathy findings (hemoglobinemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure). After excluding thrombotic microangiopathy, the patient was diagnosed with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) with the clinical and laboratory findings. Eculizumab treatment was added to hemodialysis and plasmapheresis therapy. Three months after starting treatment, retinal lesions regressed and visual acuity increased to 20/20 in both eyes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Purtscher-like retinopathy associated with aHUS.