title: Biocompatibility of a Novel Microfistula Implant in Nonprimate Mammals for the Surgical Treatment of Glaucoma.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ocular safety of a novel microfistula implant and its composite materials in an animal model.
  
  
  
  The anterior chambers of 12 rabbit eyes were injected with either glutaraldehyde cross-linked porcine gelatin extract or balanced salt solution and were followed by serial slit lamp examinations over 3 days. The eyes of 18 canines underwent microfistula implantation or a sham procedure. The animals were monitored over the subsequent 12 months, using serial slit lamp examinations, indirect ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, specular microscopy, and high-resolution ultrasonography. Ocular tissues were examined histopathologically on postoperative days 7, 30, 90, 180, and 365.
  
  
  
  Glutaraldehyde cross-linked porcine gelatin did not induce significant intraocular inflammation in the rabbit model. The microfistula implant was well tolerated and did not stimulate significant tissue response in the canine eye. The microfistula tube did not undergo structural change or degradation over the course of the study.
  
  
  
  In nonprimate mammals, the material composing the microfistula implant and the implant itself do not induce significant inflammation or tissue reaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Shute
authors.affiliation: North Downs Specialist Referrals, Bletchingley, Surrey, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ursula M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.affiliation: Charles River Laboratories, Frederick, Maryland, United States.
authors.forename: Julia F M
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Georgia, United States.
authors.forename: K Paige
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.affiliation: AlterNetMD Consulting, Farmington, Minnesota, United States.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wustenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 7Credit Valley Eye Care, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada 8Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Iqbal Ike K
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
authors.forename: Arsham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheybani
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000209:etiology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D020327:Glaucoma Drainage Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials