Postoperative suprachoroidal hemorrhage is an infrequent but devastating complication after non-valved aqueous drainage implant surgery and demonstrated a bimodal distribution. The final outcomes of either conservative management or surgical drainage of the hemorrhage remained poor.
To report the incidence and outcomes of eyes developing postoperative suprachoroidal hemorrhage (PSCH) after undergoing Aurolab Aqueous Drainage Implant (AADI) surgery for adult and pediatric refractory glaucomas.
In this retrospective series, case files of all patients who underwent AADI between May 2012 and December 2019 were retrieved from an electronic database. A PSCH was defined as the presence of hemorrhagic choroidal detachment, confirmed by ultrasound B scan, occurring in a closed system in the postoperative period.
Of the 986 eyes that underwent AADI during the study period, 7 (0.7%), developed PSCH (95% CI=0.3-1.6%). There were no differences in the preoperative parameters between those with and without PSCH. Of these, 4 were seen in pediatric eyes (4/288, 1.4%) and 3 in adult eyes (3/698, 0.4%) (P<0.01). Four eyes (57%) had PSCH in the immediate postoperative period (i.e. between 24 – 48▒h of AADI surgery), while the remaining 3 had onset ranging from 6-7 weeks after surgery. Anatomic risk factors were present in all eyes including hypotony (n=4), myopia (n=3), microcornea (n=2), microphthalmos (n=1), post vitrectomy (n=1) and staphyloma (n=1). Visual acuity improved in only one (14%) eye while 3 (43%) eyes developed phthisis bulbi, all in the pediatric age group.
PSCH is a rare complication following AADI and is seen in <1% eyes. The incidence is higher in the pediatric age group. Visual and anatomic outcomes are dismal following PSCH with globe salvage possible in only about half these eyes.

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