Pterygium surgery: conjunctival autograft using a fibrin adhesive.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficiency and safety of using a fibrin adhesive (Tissucol Duo, Baxter AG, Vienna, Austria) to avoid the need for sutures during conjunctival autograft surgery for primary pterygium.


METHODS
Twenty patients (20 eyes) with primary nasal pterygium were subjected to conjunctival autograft surgery. The free conjunctival graft placed over the bare sclera was fixed to the surrounding conjunctiva and cornea using the fibrin glue. An occlusive patch was applied. The outcome of surgery and any possible complications were periodically assessed.


RESULTS
Mean patient age was 54.9 years (28-75 years). The mean follow-up time was 26.05 +/- 3.15 (SD) weeks. The time of surgery was 15 to 20 minutes. During the postoperative course, none of the patients felt pain, and only 5/20 (25%) had the mild sensation of the presence of a foreign body. In 18/20 (90%) patients, the conjunctival autograft was observed to be correctly positioned and fixed in all the follow-up exams. No sutures were used during or after surgery. There were no cases of regrowth of the pterygium.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate the safety and efficiency of Tissucol Duo as a conjunctival adhesive for pterygium autograft surgery as treatment of primary pterygium. Because of its fast and easy application, this product considerably reduces the time of surgery. Its use also avoids complications derived from sutures and diminishes the sensation of a foreign body in the eye following surgery.
Marticorena
Joaquín
J
Ophthalmology Unit, University Hospital Complex, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Rodríguez-Ares
Maria T
MT
Touriño
Rosario
R
Mera
Purificación
P
Valladares
Maria J
MJ
Martinez-de-la-Casa
Jose M
JM
Benitez-del-Castillo
Jose M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011625:Pterygium / Q000601:surgery*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives