Removable regulating sutures during trabeculectomy for a safer and more effective intraocular pressure control

Purpose: Comparing the effect of standard trabeculectomy with direct sutures versus trabeculectomy with compression and everting sutures.

Methods: Mono-centric randomized prospective comparative study on 38 glaucomatous eyes undergoing trabeculectomy: 19 with standard fixed sutures (group A) and 19 withremovable regulating sutures (group B). Preoperatively and at day-7, 1-month, 2-months, 3-months and 6-months after surgery, we recorded best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP) and possible complications. Complete, partial success and failure rates were recorded at the end of the study.

Results: In group B, we pulled everting sutures with the "horse bridle" technique at the 14^th day, and successively removed all sutures between the 14^th-30^th post-operative day. At month-1, we recorded a significant IOP reduction in both groups (mean reduction of 11.5 mmHg for group A and of 14.4 mmHg for Group B, p = 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, group B showed a significantly lower IOP than group A (-4.2 mmHg, 95% confidence interval [CI] -7.0 to -0.5 mmHg for group B, p = 0.01). At 2, 3 and 6-months, no significant IOP differences were reported between the two groups (all p > 0.05), but failure rate was higher for group A (21%) than for group B (11%). No differences in visual outcomes at any timepoints were noted.

Conclusions: Trabeculectomy with removable regulating sutures showed a good safety profile, comparable to standard trabeculectomy. Moreover, we reported a lower IOP one month postoperatively, suggesting this technique may optimize early management of trabeculectomy.