The following is the summary of “Blood Reflux Through a PreserFlo MicroShunt Device After Needling” published in the December 2022 issue of Glaucoma by Cassottana, et al.
The purpose of this study is to present a case of hyphema that occurred during a bleb needling revision during a PreserFlo MicroShunt implantation. An 87-year-old man suffering from bilateral open-angle glaucoma was referred to our hospital with a diagnostic of suboptimal intraocular pressure (IOP) control in the right eye, despite the maximally tolerated medical therapy.
The patient was diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes. The PreserFlo MicroShunt implant was placed in the patient’s right eye during the procedure. The intraocular pressure was increased approximately two months following the surgical treatment due to the failure of the bleb for subconjunctival scarring. A needling correction was carried out while observing the patient under the slit lamp. During the surgery, there was noted to be blood reflux through a device called a PreserFlo MicroShunt from a filtering bleb to the anterior chamber. This caused an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP).
After being treated with oral acetazolamide, a topical steroid, and an antibiotic for a period of 2 weeks, the hyphema completely disappeared, and the patient experienced a considerable reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP). After a needling surgery, this is the first case that has been recorded of blood leaking back into the anterior chamber through a PreserFlo MicroShunt implant.
