J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2008 Feb;49(2):213-221. 10.3341/jkos.2008.49.2.213.

Pterygium Surgery: Wide Excision with Amniotic Membrane Transplantation using Fibrin Glue

• Kwak DY
• Lee JK
• Park DJ

• KMID: 2127111
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2008.49.2.213

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of fibrin glue and sutures for amniotic membrane transplantation after wide excision of primary pterygium.
METHODS
Forty-three eyes of 37 patients underwent amniotic membrane transplantation for primary pterygium with a minimum follow-up period of six months. Twenty-three eyes of 18 patients underwent surgery with fibrin glue and 20 eyes of 19 patients underwent surgery with sutures. Recurrence rates, complications, operating time were evaluated.
RESULTS
With a minimum of six-month of follow-up, fibrovascular tissue in the excised area, not invading the cornea (conjunctival recurrence), was noted in four eyes (17.4%) and fibrovascular tissue invading the cornea (corneal recurrence) was noted in two eyes (8.7%) in the fibrin glue group. Conjunctival recurrence was noted in five eyes (25%) and corneal recurrence was noted in one eye (5%) in the suture group. There was no significant difference in the recurrence rates between the two groups. Mean operating time in the fibrin glue group (25.2+/-3.5 minutes) was significantly shorter than in the suture group (40.5+/-3.6 minutes) (p=0.001, Students t-test). Complications included sub-amniotic membrane hemorrhage in three eyes (13%), and granuloma in one eye (4.3%) in the fibrin glue group, sub-amniotic membrane hemorrhage in four eyes (20%), granuloma in three eyes (15%), and wound dehiscence in one eye (5%) in the suture group.
CONCLUSIONS
Using fibrin glue instead of sutures in amniotic membrane transplantation after wide excision of pterygium can be considered an effective treatment with shorter operating time and fewer complications, although there is no significant difference in recurrence rates.

Keyword

Amniotic membrane transplantation; Fibrin glue; Pterygium; Recurrence rates

MeSH Terms

Amnion
Cornea
Eye
Fibrin
Fibrin Tissue Adhesive
Follow-Up Studies
Granuloma
Hemorrhage
Humans
Membranes
Pterygium
Recurrence
Sutures
Transplants
Fibrin
Fibrin Tissue Adhesive

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. Classification of pterygium. (A) Grade T1 (atrophic) episcleral vessels are unobscured. (B) Grade T2 (intermediate) episcleral vessels are partially obscured. (C) Grade T3 (fleshy) episcleral vessels are totally obscured.

• 

  Figure 2. Grading of recurrence after pterygium surgery. (A) Grade 0, normal appearance of the operated site. (B) Grade 1, fine episcleral vessels in the excised area. (C) Grade 2, fibrovascular tissue in the excised area, reaching to the limbus, but not invading the cornea (conjunctival recurrence). (D) Grade 3, fibrovascular tissue invading the cornea (corneal recurrence).

• 

  Figure 3. Procedure to perform amniotic membrane transplantation using fibrin glue after wide excision of pterygium. (A) 1:1,000 epinephrin was dropped. (B) episcleral traction sutures were placed. (C) excision and blunt dissection of pterygium from the cornea and sclera by using conjunctival scissors. (D) remnant pterygium of the cornea was dissected off by corneal forceps.(E) wide excision of the subconjunctival Tenon's tissue was done by the Ellman cautery. (F) amniotic membrane is peeled off the carrier paper and spread over the cornea. (G) a drop of thrombin solution on bare sclera. (H) a dorp of fibrinogen solution on the amniotic membrane. (I) the amniotic membrane was then immediately transferred onto the bare sclera. (J) smoothering of the amniotic membrane was done by a muscle hook. (K) the amniotic membrane was sutured to the episclera and conjuctiva to facilitate regeneration of the conjunctiva over the amniotic membrane. (L) triamcinolon was injected.

• 

  Figure 4. (A) The right eye before surgery. There is a large and fleshy primary pterygium occluding the visual axis. (B-C) At 1 day after surgery. The amniotic membrane area is transparent and nonvascularized B. Note transplanted amniotic membrane stained by fluorescein C. (D-E) At 3 weeks after surgery. The surgical wound is healed D and complete epithelization is done under fluorescein staining E. (F) At 6 months after surgery. There is a smooth and quiet conjunctival surface at the operated site.

• 

  Figure 5. Postoperative complications. (A) sub-amniotic membrane hemorrhage. (B) granuloma at the operated site.

Reference

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