A comparative study of bovine pericardium (periguard) and homologous sclera as lower eyelid spacer graft analogs in New Zealand white rabbits

Endovascular treatment of internal carotid and vertebral artery aneurysms using a novel pericardium covered stent

Intracranial aneurysm is a fairly common (often asymptomatic) condition. Subarachnoid hemorrhage associated with aneurysmal rupture is a potentially lethal event with a mortality rate as high as 50 percent and a high rate of disability among those who survive the initial hemorrhage, such that recently published guidelines support treatment of intracerebral aneurysms. The current treatment options include surgical clipping and endovascular treatment, but these are not without significant problems. Despite the trend toward endovascular treatment the rate of recurrence and complications is high. Current published evidence of the use of covered stent is limited to stents covered with polytetrafluoroethylene. It is now recognized that mammalian extracellular matrix represents an excellent scaffold material suitable for many therapeutic applications and glutaraldehyde treated pericardium has been widely used for many years due to its desirable features such as low immunogenicity and durability. This report describes the first published experience with the Aneugraft Pericardium Covered Stent (ITGI Medical, OR Akiva, Israel) in the treatment of internal carotid and vertebral artery aneurysms in three patients. In all three cases, the implantation of this novel device has resulted in successful closure of aneurysms.

[Evisceration and secondary enucleation with implantation following endophthalmitis]

PURPOSE

Primary evisceration followed by secondary enucleation and implant placement makes it possible to use the sclera of a patient with endophthalmitis. This sclera will be used for secondary implantation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Four patients with endophthalmitis and corneal perforation (bacterial infection in three cases and fungal infection in one case) underwent evisceration and, 4-6 weeks later, enucleation. During the secondary enucleation, the sclera was recovered and used as wrapping material for the alumina implant (Al2O3) (20 and 22 mm in diameter). Between the two operations, the patients were treated with systemic and topical antibiotics or antifungal agents.

RESULTS

No complications were observed for both the first and the second operation. Enucleated sclera was crumpled and bent in all four cases. The sclera was spread out and used as wrapping material. Prosthetic fitting was performed 4-5 weeks after the second operation. No complications have been observed to date (10 to 32 months follow-up).

CONCLUSION

Primary implantation following endophthalmitis is debatable because an infectious complication cannot be excluded. The use of sclera for implant wrapping decreases the risk of implant extrusion, especially when the conjunctiva and Tenon's facia have been weakened by previous surgery or infection. Primary evisceration with a conformer placement followed by enucleation and implantation is an ideal solution in endophthalmitis because this technique allows the use of patient's own sclera.

The sclera, the prion, and the ophthalmologist

Prions have emerged in the past 5 years as serious transmissible infective agents. Ocular tissue transplantation has come under scrutiny after potential infected tissue was transplanted into healthy patients. In this review we examine the evidence for the risk of transmission of prions after scleral transplantation and explore alternative materials that may be used in ocular surgery.