Donor graft harvesting with air in pterygium surgery

• Published in: European journal of ophthalmology Vol. 32; no. 5; pp. 3103 - 3109
• Main Authors: Moscovici, Bernardo Kaplan, Rodrigues, Pablo Felipe, Freitas, Marcela Mara Silva, e Silva, Francisco Bandeira, Felberg, Sérgio, Dantas, Paulo Elias Correa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-09-2022
• Subjects: fibrin tissue adhesive; cornea; pterygium
• ISSN: 1120-6721; 1724-6016
• DOI: 10.1177/11206721221090802

Purpose
Report a new technique for improvement of pterygium surgery: donor graft harvesting with air.
Case reports
We describe a technique that was used with 138 patients who underwent surgery that included a conjunctival autograft and fibrin glue with air injection to dissect the Tenon capsule from the conjunctiva.
Results
No complications occurred with this technique and all patients achieved good results.
Discussion
The surgical time with this new technique was similar to that reported in the literature. In addition, the graft thickness was close to that reported with femtosecond laser dissection and it was thinner than that reported with aesthetic/saline dissection (unable to determine statistical significance).
Conclusions and importance
With the injection of an air bubble, we could easily dissect the conjunctiva from the Tenon capsule and quickly acquire thin grafts without any additional costs or complications.