Suture-related complications after congenital cataract surgery: Vicryl versus Mersilene sutures.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate 10-0 polyester sutures (Mersilene) and 10-0 absorbable polyglactin sutures (Vicryl) for small-incision congenital cataract surgery.


METHODS
Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.


METHODS
A retrospective review comprised 51 patients (70 eyes) who had small-incision congenital cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation between 1999 and 2005. Surgery was done using Mersilene sutures or Vicryl sutures. Retinoscopy and a careful examination for suture-related complications were done 1 week after surgery and then every month for 6 months. The sutures were removed in cases of local tissue reaction but not for high postoperative astigmatism. The t test was used to evaluate postoperative astigmatism and the Fisher exact test, to evaluate the difference in the incidence of suture-related complications.


RESULTS
The patients' age ranged from 2 months to 15 years. Ten cases (18%) of corneal vascularization occurred in the Mersilene group during the 6-month follow-up period. This necessitated suture removal, after which 1 incident of endophthalmitis occurred. In contrast, no suture-related complications were noted in the Vicryl group during that time. The difference in the incidence of complications between the 2 groups approached statistical significance (P = .07). Mean astigmatism 1 week postoperatively was 2.3 diopters (D) +/- 2.1 (SD) in the Mersilene group, which was significantly higher than in the Vicryl group (mean 1.4 +/- 1.1 D) (P = .038). However, the mean astigmatism decreased to less than 1.0 D in both groups during the 6-month follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Vicryl sutures are recommended for small-incision congenital cataract surgery.
Bar-Sela
Shai M
SM
Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. barsela@012.net.il
Spierer
Oriel
O
Spierer
Abraham
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013537:Sutures / Q000009:adverse effects*
D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; C025539:Lavsan; D011098:Polyglactin 910