Post-operative complication of trabeculectomy in Ibadan, Nigeria: outcome of 1-year follow-up

Objective To describe the post-operative complications reported in patients who had trabeculectomy with and without antimetabolite in UCH, Ibadan between 1999 and 2003 and the success rate achieved in term of the post-operative intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods A retrospective study of the records of glaucoma patients who had trabeculectomy between 1999 and 2003 and had follow-up in UCH Ibadan eye clinic for a minimum of 1 year was carried out. Results Seventy-six out of 171 eyes that had trabeculectomy during the period were reviewed. Mean age of patients was 49.4 years. The mean preoperative IOP was 31.8mm Hg. Success rate of 79.4% was achieved in term of IOP control at a year of follow-up. The most frequent early post-operative complication was shallow AC (13 eyes; 17.1%) while late complication was elevated IOP (21 eyes; 27.6%). Others were encapsulated bleb 7.9% and hyphema 3.9%. There was no significant difference in the complication rate in those who had intraoperative antimetabolite (5-fluorouracil) when compared with those operated without antimetabolite. Conclusion Guarded filtration surgery is effective in controlling IOP. Most of the complications noted were transient and not visually threatening.