Conjunctival Pedicle Graft in Dogs and Cats: a Retrospective Study of 88 Cases

Soontornvipar t K. , N. Tunt ivanich, H. Kecová, P. Rau‰er :Conjunctival Pedicle Graft in Dogs and Cats: A Retrospective Study of 88 Cases. Acta Vet. Brno 2003, 72: 63-69. Seventy-eight dogs and ten cats with corneal lesions, including deep corneal stromal ulcers (n = 32), keratomalacia and recurrent erosions (n = 25), descemetocoeles (n = 18), staphylomas and perforating corneal defects (n = 5) and feline corneal sequestrations (n = 8) were treated with 3 types of conjunctival pedicle grafts. Breed, age, sex of the patients, size and depth of corneal lesions, suture material used, surgical technique and postoperative application of antibiotics were evaluated to determine their influence on the success rate of conjunctival pedicle graft. The success rate of the therapy was high (93.18%) and depended chiefly on the surgical technique employed. Corneal healing, corneal lesion, corneal ulcer, keratoplasty, dogs, cats Corneal ulcer is one of the most common corneal diseases seen in small animal practice (Tunt ivanich 1993; Boruchoff and Foulks 1990). Animals with corneal ulcers present clinical signs of epiphora, pawing, blepharospasm, photophobia, and corneal opacity (Nasisse 1996; Wilkie and Whit taker 1997). The variety of underlying causes is limitless and includes numerous types of trauma (abrasion, eyelash disease, foreign bodies, exposure due to prolapsed eyes, entropion), chemical exposure (soap, acid, repellents), infection (bacterial, fungal, viral), metabolic diseases (endothelial disease, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, hypoandrogenism) or immune mediated diseases (immune mediated punctate keratitis) (Neãas 1992; Kottman and Neãas 1993; Gelat t and Gelat t 1995; Severin, 1995). Corneal ulcers should be classified according to depth, size, etiology, presence or absence of infection and collagenase activity (Gelat t and Gelat t 1995). Despite early and proper treatment, corneal ulcers may progress rapidly and be advanced at the time of presentation, requiring immediate and aggressive medical and/or surgical intervention (Glaze 1996). If the treatment or the diagnosis is incorrect, the corneal ulcers may continue to enlarge and deepen or develop the punctate keratitis or descemetocoele (Nasisse 1996; Crispin 1993). Most superficial corneal ulcers will heal rapidly without complication. Thus, only medical therapy using topical antibiotics, mydriatic-cycloplegic agents and artificial tears should be enough to prevent or eliminate infection, alleviate discomfort, and facilitate healing (Slat ter 1990; Kern 1990). Surgical therapy should be considered for deep corneal ulcers, recurrent corneal ulcers and stromal melting at initial presentation (Whit ley 1991). Descemetocoele and perforated corneal ulcers are considered surgical emergencies. Surgical treatment of choice varies according to size and depth of the corneal defect (Wilkie and Whit taker 1997). The most important features of treating deep corneal ulcers are to provide mechanical ACTA VET. BRNO 2003, 72: 63–69 Address for correspondence: Kumpanart Soontornvipart DVM Ophthalmology Clinic Department of Surgery Small animal teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Chulalongkorn University, Henri Dunant Rd., Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Phone: +066-022 527 007 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.vfu.cz/acta-vet/actavet.htm