PATCH GRAFTS OF DEHYDRATED CADAVERIC DURA-MATER FOR TUBE-SHUNT GLAUCOMA SURGERY

Human donor sclera is commonly used in glaucoma surgery with a tube-sh unt (eg, Molteno, Baerveldt, Shocket, Krupin-Denver) to cover the exte rnal portion of the silicone tube and prevent its erosion through the overlying conjunctiva. Common problems with this technique include imm une-mediated melting of the graft and the potential for infectious dis ease transmission by the grafted material. A case is presented of a pa tient in whom a low-grade iridocyclitis was associated with the gradua l melting of a scleral patch graft; the scleral patch was then replace d with commercially available, dehydrated human dura mater. The practi cal and theoretical advantages of cadaveric human dura mater in tube-s hunt glaucoma surgery are discussed.