Intraoperative mitomycin C 0.02% for pterygium: effect of duration of application on recurrence rate

Pterygium recurrence following preoperative topical Mitomycin C and 5-Fluorouracil eyedrops

INTRODUCTION

Various adjuvant therapies have been used to prevent recurrence after pterygium excision. However, no single agent has been proven to be a gold standard for completely preventing recurrence with no associated complications.

PURPOSE

This study aims to compare the recurrence rate following preoperative topical mitomycin C (MMC) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) eye drops in pterygium excision surgery.

METHODS

In this interventional longitudinal comparative study, 90 patients with primary pterygium attending the Ophthalmology Clinic were enrolled and randomized into three equal groups of 30 each. Groups A, B, and C received preoperative 0.02% MMC eye drops, 1% 5-FU eyedrops, and placebo treatment respectively for one week before surgery followed by pterygium excision with conjunctival autograft and histopathological analysis. Patients were followed for 6months to identify recurrence.

RESULTS

At the end of the 6months, the recurrence rate in the preoperative MMC group (6.7%) was less than the 5-FU (13.3%) and placebo (20%) groups. The histopathological findings were consistent with pterygium tissues. There were high grades of inflammation, degeneration, and vascularization in both the MMC and 5-FU groups in the specimens which recurred within a period of 6months. Five patients had a novel finding of smooth muscle choristoma tissue with bundles of smooth muscle cells and fat cells clustered among the conjunctival tissue.

CONCLUSION

Based on our study results, we demonstrate that preoperative topical MMC and 5-FU eyedrops have efficacy in reducing recurrence in pterygium surgeries. The eyedrop route of administration has been proven to be an effective and easier alternative, enabling us to monitor for adverse effects of adjuvant drugs. Histopathological evaluation provides indices to predict features of future recurrence in pterygium specimens. This is the first study in which the efficacy of preoperative MMC and 5-FU is studied in eyedrop formulation along with histopathological correlation with recurrence.

Surgical Preferences in the Management of Primary Pterygium among Anterior Segment Specialists

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to reflect anterior segment specialists’ current practice pattern regarding the management of primary pterygium.

Methods:

A 24-item survey regarding indications for surgery, different surgical techniques, use of adjuvant pharmacological therapy, type of intraoperative and postoperative pharmacological therapy, and the preferred treatment of early recurrences was sent to members of the Saudi Ophthalmological Society (SOS) and practicing cornea experts including consultants, specialists, and fellows in Saudi Arabia.

Results:

A total of 61 cornea specialists completed the questionnaire (response rate 49%). More than 95% considered the proximity of the pterygium to the visual axis an indication for excision. The most frequent technique for pterygium excision was extensive head and conjunctival resection, including the base (69%) and intermediate resection of the Tenon's capsule (53%). For conjunctival replacement, conjunctival autograft was preferred by 79%, amniotic membrane (54%), and simple conjunctival closure (46%). Interrupted vicryl sutures, fibrin glue, and combined sutures and tissue adhesive were the preferred graft fixation conveyed by 85%, 46%, and 34% of our experts, respectively. An estimated recurrence rate of 1-5% was stated by 29% of respondents and 46% reported recurrence within 6 to 12 months. Half of the respondents specified using mitomycin C intraoperatively to prevent early pterygium recurrences. When recurrence occurred, corticosteroid was the agent of choice.

Conclusion:

This study set out to reflect the practice pattern of anterior segment specialists regarding the management of primary pterygium, and it may serve as an insight for further studies to define the optimal management of pterygium.

Fibrin glue versus sutures for conjunctival autografting in primary pterygium surgery

BACKGROUND

Pterygium, a growth of the conjunctiva over the cornea, is a progressive disease leading in advanced stages to visual impairment, restriction of ocular motility, chronic inflammation and cosmetic concerns. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice, but recurrence can be a problem. Currently the best surgical option in terms of recurrence is conjunctival autograft. To date the most common surgical methods of attaching conjunctival autografts to the sclera are through suturing or fibrin glue. Each method presents its own advantages and disadvantages. Sutures require considerable skill from the surgeon and can be associated with a prolonged operation time, postoperative discomfort and suture-related complications, whereas fibrin glue may give a decreased operation time, improve postoperative comfort and avoid suture-related problems.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of fibrin glue compared to sutures in conjunctival autografting for the surgical treatment of pterygium.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL (which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Trials Register) (2016, Issue 9), Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE Daily, Ovid OLDMEDLINE (January 1946 to October 2016), Embase (January 1980 to October 2016), the ISRCTN registry (www.isrctn.com/editAdvancedSearch), ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov), and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) (www.who.int/ictrp/search/en). We did not use any date or language restrictions in the electronic searches for trials. We last searched the electronic databases on 14 October 2016.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in any setting where fibrin glue was compared with sutures to treat people with pterygium.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened the search results, assessed trial quality, and extracted data using standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Our primary outcome was recurrence of pterygium defined as any re-growth of tissue from the area of excision across the limbus onto the cornea. The secondary outcomes were surgical time and complication rate. We graded the certainty of the evidence using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 14 RCTs conducted in Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sweden and Turkey. The trials were published between 2004 and 2016, and were assessed as a mixture of unclear and low risk of bias with three studies at high risk of attrition bias. Only adults were enrolled in these studies.Using fibrin glue for the conjunctival autograft may result in less recurrence of pterygium compared with using sutures (risk ratio (RR) 0.47, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.82, 762 eyes, 12 RCTs; low-certainty evidence). If pterygium recurs after approximately 10 in every 100 surgeries with sutures, then using fibrin glue may result in approximately 5 fewer cases of recurrence in every 100 surgeries (95% CI 2 fewer to 7 fewer cases). Using fibrin glue may lead to more complications compared with sutures (RR 1.92; 95% CI 1.22 to 3.02, 11 RCTs, 673 eyes, low-certainty evidence). The most common complications reported were: graft dehiscence, graft retraction and granuloma. On average using fibrin glue may mean that surgery is quicker compared with suturing (mean difference (MD) -17.01 minutes 95% CI -20.56 to -13.46), 9 RCTs, 614 eyes, low-certainty evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The meta-analyses, conducted on people with pterygium in a hospital or outpatient setting, show fibrin glue may result in less recurrence and may take less time than sutures for fixing the conjunctival graft in place during pterygium surgery. There was low-certainty evidence to suggest a higher proportion of complications in the fibrin glue group.

Effects of intraoperative steroid injection on the outcome of pterygium surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effects of intraoperative triamcinolone injection on the outcome of pterygium surgery.

METHODS

This prospective study included 54 eyes with primary nasal pterygia that underwent pterygium surgery with a bare-sclera technique and intraoperative mitomycin C application. Patients were randomized into two groups; the steroid group that received subconjunctival injection of 12 mg triamcinolone acetonide at the end of surgery, and the control group that did not receive such steroid injection. Main outcome measures included presence of conjunctival inflammation at 1 month postoperatively as well as recurrence of pterygium.

RESULTS

Twelve-month follow-up was completed in 48 eyes (23 in the steroid group and 25 in the control group). At 1 month postoperatively, different grades of conjunctival inflammation were present in 11 (47.8%) of the steroid group and in 14 (56%) of the control group (P=0.39). For eyes with moderate or severe postoperative inflammation, subconjunctival triamcinolone was injected; these included 6 (26.1%) and 9 (36%) in the steroid and control groups, respectively (P=0.54). During follow-up, surgical area showed fine episcleral vessels without fibrous tissue in 1 (4.3%) of the steroid group and 3 (12.0%) of the control group (P=0.33), which all regressed after triamcinolone injection. Conjunctival recurrence of pterygium was seen in 2 (8.7%) of the steroid group and in 1 (4.0%) of the control group (P=0.47). No eye developed corneal recurrence in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

In pterygium surgery with a bare-sclera technique and mitomycin C application, intraoperative triamcinolone injection did not significantly reduce postoperative conjunctival inflammation or pterygium recurrence.

Surgical management of double-head pterygium by using a novel technique: conjunctival rotational autograft combined with conjunctival autograft

PURPOSE

To describe a novel technique for the surgical management of double-head pterygium and to evaluate its safety and efficacy.

METHODS

A prospective noncomparative interventional case series was conducted. Patients with primary double-head pterygium underwent pterygium excision, followed by conjunctival rotational autograft (CRA) combined with conjunctival autograft (CA). CRA was harvested from the larger pterygium and placed over the bare scleral defect of the smaller pterygium with 180-degree rotation. The bare scleral defect of the larger pterygium was covered with CA harvested from the superior bulbar conjunctiva. Patients were followed up for 1 year, and the outcomes and recurrence rates were noted.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were recruited into the study, of which 7 (35%) were men and 13 (65%) were women. The mean age was 63.8 years. No intraoperative complication was encountered. Postoperatively, there was significant improvement in best-corrected visual acuity (P = 0.005) and reduction in magnitude of astigmatism (P = 0.016). At 1 year after operation, there were 7 cases of recurrence (35%), but 4 were 1 mm. The main postoperative complication was persistent CRA injection in 9 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

CRA combined with CA is a safe alternative in the management of double-head pterygium. Further modifications of the surgical techniques are warranted to decrease prolonged hyperemia of the CRA.

[Recurrence rates after pterygium excision with sliding conjunctival flap versus free conjunctival autograft]

BACKGROUND

After simple excision without additional surgical measures, pterygiums demonstrate high recurrence rates. According to the literature, recurrences may occur in up to 83% after simple excision compared to 5-21% after excision combined with conjunctival autografts. An alternative to the free conjunctival graft is the sliding conjunctival graft.

METHODS

The data of 50 patients operated over a period of 8 years were evaluated retrospectively. The long-term results after pterygium excision with free conjunctival graft vs sliding conjunctival flap were compared with data extracted from the literature.

RESULTS

The average follow-up was 23 months. During this period, 18.5% of 27 operated eyes with free conjunctival grafts developed a recurrence of pterygium. After excision with sliding conjunctival grafts only 6.9% of 29 operated and examined eyes developed recurrences.

CONCLUSION

In the present study pterygium excision combined with sliding conjunctival graft was a simplified surgical technique with a lower recurrence rate compared to the free conjunctival graft.

Science and Strategy for Preventing and Managing Corneal Ulceration

ABSTRACT Corneal ulcers can cause significant loss of vision from scarring and astigmatism, but rapid management can limit the destruction and improve outcomes. Infectious ulcers usually resolve with antimicrobial treatment. Noninfectious ulcers, however, present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. They can often be resolved by eliminating toxic medications and providing surface support with lubrication and collagenase inhibitors, but resistant ulcers may need more aggressive therapy with bandage contact lenses, tarsorrhaphy, or autologous serum. Ulcers impending perforation require urgent surgical management (e.g., tissue glue, conjunctival flaps, or keratoplasty). Topical steroids are useful when the ulceration is secondary to inflammatory mediators, but they are contraindicated in corneal melts with minimal inflammation, such as those associated with Sjogren syndrome. Systemic immunomodulation is required in addition to topical therapy in the presence of autoimmune disease. Understanding of the pathological processes that occur in different types of corneal ulcers is essential to formulation of a logical and effective treatment plan. Newer, more targeted treatment modalities may offer treatment options that have greater efficacy and fewer adverse effects.

Transplantation of conjunctival limbal autograft and amniotic membrane vs mitomycin C and amniotic membrane in treatment of recurrent pterygium

AIM

To compare the efficacy and complications of conjunctival limbal autograft (CLAU) and amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) vsintraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) and AMT for treatment of recurrent pterygium.

METHODS

Forty eyes of 40 patients with recurrent pterygium underwent CLAU and AMT (20 eyes) or intraoperative MMC (0.02%, 3 min) and AMT (20 eyes). Three eyes (15%) had symblepharon before surgery in each group. Recurrence was compared in each group by using chi(2) test.

RESULTS

No major postoperative complications occurred during 6-19 months of follow-up. In CLAU/AMT group, no pterygium recurrence was observed. Recurrence occurred in four eyes (20%) in MMC/AMT group after 3 and 4 months (P-value=0.035, chi(2) test). No recurrence of pterygium or symblepharon was seen in six eyes with recurrent pterygium and symblepharon (three eyes in each group).

CONCLUSION

CLAU with AMT seems to be more effective than intraoperative MMC with AMT for treatment of recurrent pterygium.

Pterygium Surgery

PURPOSE

To compare the short-term results of conjunctival closure in pterygium surgery using fibrin adhesive versus Vicryl sutures with respect to operative time, postoperative ocular signs and symptoms, and overall patient satisfaction.

METHODS

A comparative prospective randomized clinical trial was performed in 65 patients (65 eyes) with primary nasal pterygium. Surgery in all patients consisted of the bare sclera technique combined with intraoperative mitomycin C. Patients were randomized to undergo conjunctival closure with a fibrin tissue adhesive (Quixil; n = 39) or 8-0 Vicryl absorbable interrupted sutures (n = 26). Clinical assessment was performed on days 1, 3, 10, and 21 after surgery. Patients completed a questionnaire at each follow-up visit, grading pain, discomfort, and satisfaction with the procedure. The groups were compared for operative time, ocular signs and symptoms, and overall satisfaction.

RESULTS

Average operative time was 16 minutes (range, 14-16 minutes) in the fibrin glue group and 20 minutes (range, 20-29 minutes) in the Vicryl suture group (P < 0.05). Significantly less pain, photophobia, foreign body sensation, irritation, epiphora, itching, local hyperemia, conjunctival chemosis, and dry eye were noted in the subjects treated with glue than in controls (P < 0.05). There were no complications during the 3-week follow-up period in the glue-treated patients. One of the patients in the suture group had a medically treatable corneal delle.

CONCLUSION

The use of fibrin glue in pterygium surgery significantly reduces operative time and patient symptoms, pain, and discomfort. A longer follow-up is needed to evaluate the influence of fibrin glue on rate of recurrence and long-term complications.

Combined "symmetrical conjunctival flap transposition" and intraoperative low-dose mitomycin C in the treatment of primary pterygium

PURPOSE

To introduce a new technique of conjunctival reconstruction after primary pterygium excision, and to evaluate the efficacy of combined "symmetrical conjunctival flap transposition" and intraoperative low-dose mitomycin C application in preventing recurrence of primary pterygium.

METHODS

In a prospective, non-comparative case series, 43 eyes of 41 consecutive patients with primary pterygium were studied. In all patient eyes, after excision of pterygia, 0.02% mitomycin C was applied topically for 2 min over the exposed scleral surface and "symmetrical conjunctival flap transposition" was performed to reconstruct the conjunctival defect. The main outcome measures were pterygium recurrence or any complications related with surgery or mitomycin C.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 47.5 +/- 12.4 years (range 30-70 years). Among the 38 patients who were not lost to follow up, three patient eyes (7.5%) had grade 1, 24 eyes (60.0%) had grade 2 and 13 eyes (32.5%) had grade 3 pterygium. The mean follow up was 12.2 +/- 5.7 months (range 7-28 months). No recurrence or sight-threatening complications were encountered in any patient eye throughout the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Combined "symmetrical conjunctival flap transposition" and intraoperative low-dose mitomycin C application may be an effective surgical alternative in preventing recurrence of primary pterygium. Although the procedure seems to be free from severe complications, surgeons and patients should be well aware of the risk of late radiomimetic complications of mitomycin C. Comparative, randomized trials with more number of patients and longer follow up are required to further establish the safety and efficacy of this treatment strategy.

Long-Term Results After Bare Sclera Pterygium Resection With Excimer Smoothing and Local Application of Mitomycin C

PURPOSE

To evaluate the long-term results and complications after bare sclera pterygium excision with local application of mitomycin C and consecutive smoothing of the wound area with an excimer laser (PTK).

METHODS

This was an observational case series of 133 eyes of 101 patients who underwent pterygium surgery using the bare sclera technique. Thirty-one of these treated eyes (23%) were recurrences with a mean of 3 previous operations. After pterygium surgery, phototherapeutic keratectomy with an ArF:excimer laser was performed in the area of the excision. Additionally, all patients were treated with mitomycin C 0.02% twice daily for 4 days. Median follow-up was 53 months (minimum, 36).

RESULTS

In the group with primary pterygia, 3 recurrences occurred after 6, 12, and 28 months (recurrence rate, 2.9%). In the group with previous pterygium operations, 2 recurrences (recurrence rate, 6.4%) were recorded. Uncorrected visual acuity of all treated patients improved from 0.61 preoperatively to 0.79 postoperatively (P < 0.0001), best corrected visual acuity increased from 0.82 to 0.91 (P = 0.0001) [LogMAR]. Mean astigmatism was significantly reduced from 1.54 D preoperatively to 0.61 D postoperatively (P < 0.0001). In 7 eyes, discrete granulomas developed postoperatively (5.3%); in 3 cases (2.3%), dellen formation occurred that persisted for a maximum of 4 months. No further complications were recorded during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Pterygium excision using the bare sclera technique, phototherapeutic keratectomy, and local application of mitomycin C 0.02% eyedrops is a safe method with good functional results and a low recurrence rate.

Outcome of double-headed pterygium surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate the postoperative outcome and recurrence rate of bare sclera technique combined with intraoperative application of mitomycin C (MMC) 0.02% for 5 minutes in the treatment of primary and recurrent double-head pterygia.

METHODS

A prospective, noncomparative interventional case series of 13 eyes in 13 patients with primary (n = 10) or recurrent double-head pterygia in one eye operated on by one surgeon (R.A.). They all had bare sclera excision combined with intraoperative application of MMC 0.02% for 5 minutes. All patients were followed postoperatively for recurrence of the lesion, aesthetic outcome, and incidence of eye complications.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up was 36.3 +/- 3.8 months for the patients with primary and 28.4 +/- 2.7 months for the patients with recurrent double-head pterygia. There was only one recurrence in one of the three eyes in the group with recurrent pterygia (33.33%). The only significant complication observed was a pyogenic granuloma in two of the recurrent and one of the primary cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The bare sclera technique combined with intraoperative MMC 0.02% for 5 minutes is an effective and safe procedure for double-head pterygia. This method can serve as a useful alternative to amniotic membrane transplantation in countries where the latter is not available and in patients in whom conjunctival autograft is not feasible.