Publications (22) View all
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Article: Human pericardium graft in the management of bleb's complication performed in childhood: a case report.
Dimitris Papaconstantinou, Ilias Georgalas, Sergios Taliantzis, Chrysanthi Koutsandrea, Ioannis Ladas, Gerassimos Georgopoulos[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To report a case with hypotony due to late leakage of the filtering bleb performed during childhood and treated surgically using human pericardium graft. A man with hypotony related to bleb's leakage in his right eye was presented. During his childhood trabeculectomy was performed to manage ocular hypertension due to pediatric glaucoma. Biomicroscopy revealed choroidal tissue incarcerated in the sclerectomy under the conjunctiva. Bleb revision was performed. Human pericardium graft was used to cover the sclerectomy and a new bleb with controlled outflow was created. The intraocular pressure (IOP) and Seidel test represent the main outcomes. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Fifteen days postoperatively the IOP was of 7 mmHg and the bleb seemed to filter properly. Five months later the IOP was 9 mmHg and no complications were noticed. During the follow up time, the Seidel test was negative. We used human pericardium graft with no complications in a case of bleb leakage performed for pediatric glaucoma.BMC Ophthalmology 09/2011; 11:27. · 1.00 Impact Factor -
Article: Perfluorocarbon liquids in vitreoretinal surgery: a review of applications and toxicity.
Ilias Georgalas, Ioannis Ladas, Ioannis Tservakis, Sergios Taliantzis, Eustratios Gotzaridis, Dimitris Papaconstantinou, Chryssanthi Koutsandrea[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Since their introduction by Chang et al. in 1987, perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCLs) have become a useful tool in vitreoretinal surgery. They are synthetic compounds with carbon-fluorine chemical chains that have specific physico-chemical properties, which make them valuable for the intraoperative management of the retina by simplifying vitreoretinal surgical maneuvers in a variety of settings. These maneuvers include retinal detachments associated with proliferative vitreous retinopathy, following penetrating trauma, giant retinal tears, dislocated lenses or lens implants and complications from proliferative diabetic vitreoretinopathy. Purified PFCLs are generally considered to be biologically inert. Despite the stability of PFCLs during vitreoretinal surgery, several studies have indicated that these compounds may be associated with toxicity in ocular tissues. The purpose of this review is to report the use and toxicity of PFCLs in vitreoretinal surgery and to present the latest perspectives on modified PFCLs (hydrofluorocarbon liquids (HFCLs) and HFCL-oligomers).Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology 03/2011; 30(4):251-62. · 0.91 Impact Factor -
Article: Does sulfur-hexafluoride tamponade, as an adjunct to vitrectomy and internal-limiting-membrane peeling, suffice for the treatment of retinal detachment associated with macular hole?
Ilias Georgalas, Ioannis Ladas, Petros Petrou, Eustratios Gotzaridis, Dimitris Papaconstantinou, Alexandros Rouvas, Chryssanthi Koutsandrea[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To evaluate the efficacy of sulfur hexafluoride tamponade, as an adjunct to vitrectomy and internal-limiting-membrane peeling, for the treatment of retinal detachment (RD) associated with macular hole (MH). Our study was a retrospective interventional case series. We evaluated 9 phakic eyes of 9 consecutive patients with retinal detachment secondary to macular hole (MHRD) treated with 20-gauge (g) pars plana vitrectomy, which was followed with trypan blue-assisted internal-limiting-membrane peeling, fluid-air exchange, and 20% sulfur hexafluoride tamponade (SF(6)) gas exchange. All patients underwent optical coherence tomography, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, and dilated fundus examination with indentation, pre- and postoperatively. The mean (± standard deviation) follow-up time was 13 ± 3 months (range 9-18). Postoperatively, all eyes demonstrated an attached retina, whereas MH closure was achieved in only 1 eye, and in a second eye after additional injection of gas and further posturing. The BCVA improved from 2.2 ± 0.4 logMAR (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) at baseline to 2.0 ± 0.5 logMAR at the end of follow-up (p = .05). The failure in MH closure in most of our cases strengthens the view that short-term tamponade with SF(6) may not suffice for achieving MH closure, and either prolonged tamponade (with C(3)F(8) or silicone oil) or additional photocoagulation may be a better option for eyes with MHRDs. In addition, it is possible that intravitreal injection of gas might be an option for the treatment of persistent MHs after vitrectomy for MHRD, especially when the MH is small. Further studies are required to evaluate the above findings, although the implementation of large series studies remains a challenge because of the rarity of cases with MHRDs.Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology 12/2010; 29(4):288-92. · 0.91 Impact Factor -
SourceAvailable from: Dimitris Papaconstantinou
Article: Adherence with brimonidine in patients with glaucoma aware and not aware of electronic monitoring.
Manuel Marcel Hermann, Dimitris Papaconstantinou, Philipp Sebastian Muether, Gerasimos Georgopoulos, Michael Diestelhorst[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To assess the impact of open versus masked adherence monitoring on adherence with topical brimonidine using two different dosing schedules. Thirty-seven patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension were enrolled in a prospective, observational cohort study. Patients were randomly assigned to open or masked adherence monitoring and to brimonidine twice daily (BID) or three times daily (TID). Patients received conventional brimonidine eye drops with attached electronic monitoring devices for 4 weeks with weekly intraocular pressure measurements. Adherence calculations comprised dosing intervals, adherence rate and time covered. Subgroup analysis with anova included the factors masking, regimen, diagnosis and age. Among 36 individually analysed patients, 12 (33%) had adherence rates above 75%, therein two (5%)>90%. The mean adherence rate in 19 patients aware of adherence measurements was 70 ± 17% for brimonidine BID and 65 ± 14% for TID, not significantly different to the rates of 17 patients not informed about adherence measurements (77 ± 6% BID, 62 ± 9% TID, p = 0.24). On average, patients with brimonidine TID achieved significantly lower adherence rates (64 ± 12%) than patients on BID (73 ± 13%, p = 0.02). Still, patients on TID applied brimonidine more often (TID 1.9 ± 0.3, BID 1.5 ± 0.1 mean applications per day). The median coverage was 70% and showed no statistically significant difference between patients on BID and TID (p = 0.36). The study findings suggest that adherence measurements are not significantly altered by open adherence monitoring, which may simplify future adherence studies. Adherence with brimonidine eye drops was insufficient for most patients. These results demonstrate the necessity to develop new strategies to improve compliance in glaucoma therapy.Acta ophthalmologica 11/2010; 89(4):e300-5. · 2.44 Impact Factor -
Article: Dealing with retinal detachment in a patient with aphakia, an Artisan lens, and an ExPress valve in situ.
Ilias Georgalas, Petros Petrou, Ioannis Ladas, Dimitris Papaconstantinou, Stelios Gotsis, Chryssanthi Koutsandrea[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To report our experience from a case with a retinal detachment in an eye with aphakia, an Artisan phakic anterior chamber lens, and an ExPress valve and describe its course after vitrectomy and gas tamponade. Interventional case report. A 65-year-old man who had previously undergone cataract extraction, Artisan/Verisyse lens implantation, and ExPress valve insertion for the treatment of aphakia and refractory glaucoma presented with a superior retinal detachment. The patient underwent a 20-g pars plana 20g vitrectomy, cryotherapy, and sulfur hexafluoride (SF(6)) tamponade. Twenty days after vitrectomy, the Artisan lens remained in place and the retina attached. Twelve months postoperatively, the situation remained unchanged. Iris-claw lenses have been introduced in 2004 as an alternative option for the correction of aphakia. Vitreoretinal surgeons face a new therapeutic challenge since data with regard to retinal detachment repair in patients with Artisan lenses are very limited. In our case, all intraoperative vitrectomy manipulations were performed without difficulty through the Artisan lens, which remained stable during fluid-air exchange as well as postoperatively, despite the movements of the gas bubble and the presence of the ExPress valve. Moreover, there was no displacement of the ExPress valve during the intraoperative manipulations of vitrectomy or dysfunction of the valve due to the existence of the gas in the postoperative period.Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology 10/2010; 30(1):80-3. · 0.91 Impact Factor