Complications of fibrin glue in pterygium surgery with amniotic membrane transplant.

PURPOSE: To compare the complications and the recurrence rate between fibrin glue (TISSEEL) and Vicryl 8-0 sutures in amniotic membrane transplant during pterygium surgery.

METHODS

Patients who underwent pterygium surgery with amniotic membrane transplant (AMT) in the Wang Eye Clinic (Doraville, USA) were randomly categorized into two groups: one group received TISSEEL and the other group received Vicryl 8-0 sutures. All procedures for both groups were performed by one ophthalmologist. Twenty-four patients (24 eyes) participated in the TISSEEL group (22 eyes with primary surgery and 2 eyes with surgery for recurrence) and 19 patients (19 eyes) took part in the suture group (18 primary eyes and 1 recurrence). The patients with recurrent pterygium in both groups had not received AMT previously. Post-operatively, patients were followed up for one week and then one year to check for any signs of complications and recurrence.

RESULTS

Conjunctival inflammation occurred in 3 eyes (12.5%) in the TISSEEL group, and 6 eyes (31.6%) in the suture group (P<0.05, Chi-square test). In the TISSEEL group, 1 eye (4.2%) showed recurrence, while there were no recurrences in the sutures group. There were 3 dry eyes (15.8%) in the suture group and 2 dry eyes (8.3%) in the TISSEEL group (P>0.05). No dislocated conjunctival grafts, Dellen, inflammation, infection, bleeding, pyogenic granuloma, or scleromalacia was observed in either group.

CONCLUSION

Pterygium surgery with AMT had less conjunctival inflammation and dry eye in patients receiving fibrin glue than those with Vicryl 8-0 sutures.