Kafkas Universitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi (Dec 2021)
Comparison of the efficacy of the nictitating membrane flap, conjunctival pedicle flap, and platelet-rich fibrin membrane graft techniques in the surgical management of corneal necrosis in cats: a retrospective study (2016-2020)
Abstract
The presented study was designed to compare the clinical features and the surgical outcomes of three techniques, such as the conjunctival pedicle flap (CPF), platelet-rich fibrin membrane graft (PRFMG), and nictitating membrane flap (NMF) applied after lamellar keratectomy to treat corneal sequestrum in cats. The postsurgical outcomes, complications, and recurrence rate of the lesions in 31 eyes of a total of 30 cats of different ages, breeds, and gender diagnosed with corneal necrosis were evaluated in the study. After partial keratectomy, patients were divided into three groups, each containing ten animals. Perioperative findings of all cases that underwent CPF, PRFMG, and NMF applications, including postsurgical complications, were evaluated. All patients were regularly monitored. Advantages and disadvantages were noted for all three techniques during and after the surgery. Despite long-term medical treatment with CPF (3-4 months), varying degrees of permanent fibrosis partially impairing vision developed in the related defect area, but no recurrence was observed in eyes that could not be fully keratectomy. In all cases with PRFMG, it was determined that the corneal granulation tissue disappeared completely within 5-6 weeks and the corneal transparency increased by 70% within 1.5-2 months, while recurrence developed in 2 cases. In eyes treated with NMF method, although tectonic support to the cornea and no additional tissue transplantation to accelerate the healing of the defect area was performed, the recovery period was fast and the duration of medical treatment applied to reduce or completely resolve the corneal fibrosis after surgery was very short. A rapid corneal restoration was determined in cats treated with the NMF method. Anatomical outcome was evaluated as positive in all methods. Both fast and satisfactory cosmetic appearance was achieved in PRFMG and NMF techniques. The results of this study proved that all three techniques are suitable for treating corneal necrosis in cats because of their practicality, relative effortlessness and non-invasiveness.
Keywords
