Bovine Amniotic Membrane Transplantation in Feline Corneal Sequestrum: A Retrospective Study of 52 Cases (56 Eyes).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate visual and transparency outcomes using the Royal Veterinary College Corneal Clarity Score (RVC-CCS) following bovine amniotic membrane transplantation (BAMT) in cats with large feline corneal sequestrum (FCS).

METHODS

Fifty-two cats (56 eyes) were treated with BAMT with freezing storage, between June 2016 and May 2023. Breed, age, sex of the cats, size, and location of the FCS were reported. For the removal of the corneal sequestrum, a lamellar keratectomy was performed, and one or more layers of BAMT were sutured. The success of the surgery was assessed by functional and esthetic outcomes, as well as the rate of recurrence. The RVC-CCS was used to evaluate the degree of persistent corneal opacity.

RESULTS

Twenty-three females and twenty-nine males underwent surgery. Brachycephalic cats were over-represented (32/52), with the majority being Persian (28/52). The mean age of the cats was 5 years. The median follow-up time was 89.5 days with an average of 400 days (range 21-2590 days). There were no complications in forty-five cases. Twelve eyes had recurrence of FCS, seven of them early, i.e., < 2 months postoperatively. One cat had a partial suture dehiscence, and another had a postoperative corneal infection. Rare complications occurred in two cases: a hemorrhage and a poor adhesion between two layers of amniotic membrane. 90% of cases had RVC-CCS scores better than or equal to G2 at median follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

BAMT with freezing storage was a good option to maintain corneal transparency after surgical management of large FCS.