A comparison of fibrin glue with sutures for conjunctival autografts in pterygium excision surgery

Date
2015-09-04
Authors
Sandri, Lara
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
To assess post-operative patient comfort and graft success following conjunctival autografts with sutures compared with Tisseel glue for pterygium surgery, and to identify which procedure was the more cost-effective surgical option. Design and Methods: A prospective randomized comparison of 60 patients undergoing primary pterygium surgery at St John Eye Hospital between April 2012 and September 2012. A post-operative comfort scale was used to assess foreign body sensation, sensitivity to light, tearing and itchiness. Graft success was defined as a graft that was still adherent at one month following surgery. Results: Patients in the Tisseel glue group experienced significantly less foreign body sensation (p=0.038) and itchiness (p=0.018) on day-one after surgery, compared to those in the suture group. At one-month follow-up patients had significantly less foreign body sensation (p=0.042), sensitivity to light (p=0.001), and itchiness (p=0.009) in the Tisseel glue group compared to the suture group. Autograft adherence was seen in all 60 patients at the one-month follow-up visit. Both the surgical time and the indirect costs of the procedure were reduced in the Tisseel glue group. Conclusions: The use of Tisseel glue for attaching autografts in pterygium surgery is an effective method with global autograft success, less post-operative discomfort and shorter operating times.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in Ophthalmology Johannesburg 2015
Keywords
Citation
Collections