Available online at www.medicinescience.org
CASE REPORT
Medicine Science 2019;8(3):763-5
Inferonasal XEN gel stent implantation in a refractory glaucoma patient with failed
multiple glaucoma fltration surgeries: Case report
Abdurrahman Alpaslan Alkan
1
, Eyup Duzgun
1
, Ali Olgun
1
, Ece Ozdemir Zeydanli
1
, Murat Karapapak
2
1
Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Deparment of Ophthalmology, Istanbul, Turkey
2
Polatli Duatepe State Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, Istanbul, Turkey
Received 13 March 2019; Accepted 22 March 2019
Available online 10.05.2019 with doi:10.5455/medscience.2019.08.9034
Copyright © 2019 by authors and Medicine Science Publishing Inc.
Abstract
A 59-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus and bilateral primary open angle glaucoma was referred to our clinic due to uncontrolled intraocular pressure (IOP)
in the right eye. On examination, the visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes and IOP was measured 22 mmHg in his right eye and 14 mmHg in his left eye despite maximal
medical treatment. The patient had undergone two trabeculectomy and an EX-Press shunt surgery in the right eye previously. XEN gel stent (Allergan, Dublin, CA)
implanted in the inferonasal quadrant due to the scarring in superior and nasal conjunctiva as a result of failed surgeries. The patient was followed up for 18 months with
an IOP under 10 mmHg without any medication or a second intervention. XEN stent implantation may be considered as an efective option where other surgical techniques
failed, and the conjunctiva is unsuitable in the superior quadrant.
Keywords: Refractory glaucoma, XEN gel stent, inferonasal quadrant
Medicine Science
International
Medical Journal
763
Introduction
Trabeculectomy is the gold standard treatment for the control of
intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma
(OAG) which can not be controlled by medical treatment [1].
However, in recent years, studies have been carried out to prevent
complications related to trabeculectomy and to fnd less traumatic
surgical options. As a result, various minimally invasive glaucoma
surgery (MIGS) techniques have started to be used in mild to
moderate glaucoma patients with poor medication compliance [2].
One of these surgical techniques is the implantation of the XEN
gel stent (Allergan, Dublin, CA). The XEN stent is a hydrophilic
tube, which is produced by using porcine collagen-derived gelatin
cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. One of the most important
advantages of this technique is that it is less traumatic than other
surgical techniques since it does not require a conjunctival or scleral
incision [3]. With increased clinical experience and encouraging
results with XEN stent, it has started to be used to after unsuccessful
trabeculectomy or Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV) implantation
surgeries in which the superonasal conjunctiva has been preserved.
[4-6]. Here, we present a case of refractory glaucoma patient who
*Coresponding Author: Abdurrahman Alpaslan Alkan, Sislili Hamidiye Etfal
Education and Research Hospital, Deparment of Ophthalmology, Istanbul, Turkey
E-mail: alpaslan alkan@hotmail.com
underwent XEN stent implantation in the inferonasal quadrant
due to conjunctival scarring in the superior quadrant following
multiple failed glaucoma surgeries.
Case Report
A 59-year-old male was referred to our glaucoma clinic for
uncontrolled IOP in the right eye despite medical and surgical
treatments. His past medical history was notable for type II Diabetes
Mellitus. Past ocular history revealed that he had a diagnosis of
primary OAG and a mini-Ex-Press Glaucoma Filtration Device
(Alcon lab., Fort Worth, TX) implanted four years ago due to
IOP over 30 mmHg that couldn’t be controlled with maximal
medical therapy. Two years later, combined trabeculectomy with
phacoemulsifcation was performed for progressive feld loss
along with cataract development. Despite the surgery, adequate
IOP reduction could not be achieved and a second trabeculectomy
was performed six months later. After the last operation, the patient
was referred to our glaucoma clinic for refractory glaucoma. On
admission, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20
in both eyes. Intraocular pressure was 22mmHg in the right eye
and 14mmHg in the left eye (Goldmann applanation tonometer).
Biomicroscopic examination revealed iridectomies secondary
to trabeculectomy surgeries at superonasal and superotemporal
quadrants, fat blebs at both sides and a posterior chamber intraocular
lens (IOL) in his right eye and anterior segment evaluation of the