Reintervention rate in glaucoma filtering surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: Reintervention rate is an important factor impacting on patients, surgeons, and society. To date, only a few studies have focused on this topic. For this reason, a systematic review and meta-analysis was undertaken to assess the reintervention rate after glaucoma filtering surgery. Materials and Methods: Prospective studies reporting the reintervention rate after glaucoma filtering surgery and with at least 12 months of follow-up were systematically searched on PubMed, Medline and Embase databases. The primary outcome was the total reintervention rate following surgery. Secondary outcomes were: the rate of manipulation, in-clinic and in-operating room reintervention; the reintervention rate for intraocular pressure (IOP) control and for complications; demographic, clinical and surgical variables associated with reintervention rate. Results: Ninety-three studies with a total of 8345 eyes were eligible. The total reintervention rate was 1.84 (95% CI 1.57–2.13), with a lower rate for Baerveldt (0.53, 95% CI 0.29–0.83) and Preserflo (0.60, 95% CI 0.15–1.29), and a higher rate for Xen (4.26, 95% CI 2.59–6.31). The manipulation rate was 0.99 (95% CI 0.77–1.23), the in-clinic reintervention rate was 0.08 (95% CI 0.05–0.12) and the in-operating room reintervention rate was 0.28 (95% CI 0.22–0.35). The reintervention rate for IOP control was 1.26 (95% CI 1.04–1.51) and the reintervention rate for complications was 0.27 (95% CI 0.21–0.35). Conclusions: All types of surgery presented a total reintervention rate similar to the overall findings, except studies on Baerveldt and Preserflo Microshunt, with a lower rate, and Xen, with a higher rate. None of the variables evaluated were found to be directly associated with the explored outcomes.