The use of biomaterials in the treatment of deep corneal lesions in small animals

• Autor(a) principal: Vidal, Miguel Frederico Pimenta de Carvalho Perry
• Data de Publicação: 2020
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10348/10818
• topic: Deep corneal lesion; Biosynthetic corneal graft

Deep corneal lesions constitute emergencies that generally require surgical treatment. Among these lesions, deep corneal ulcers, melting ulcers, descemetoceles, corneal perforations and corneal feline sequestrums are some of the most observed in small animal practice. This dissertation presents a brief literary review on some of these pathologic processes, but mostly on surgical techniques that involve the implant of a biosynthetic graft, it’s characterization and surgical outcomes. Out of the commercially available biomaterials with this purpose, the following are included: BioSIS® - porcine intestinal submucosa matrix; Acell Vet® - porcine bladder submucosa matrix; Omnigen® - human membrane amniotic matrix. Six animals were included in the case series, that were followed since first presentation to final post-operative follow-up. Five cats and one dog are represented, that between them comprise two descemetoceles, one corneal perforation with anterior iris synechia, one acute bullous keratopathy and two sequestrums. Two of the animals were treated with BioSIS®, two with Acell Vet®, and the other two with Omnigen®. Four of the cases were accompanied in the UTCVM’s John and Ann Tickle Small Animal Hospital Ophthalmology service and the other two in the Center of Ophthalmology at Serralves Veterinary Practice. Outcome wise, regarding the presented clinical cases, there were virtually no postoperative complications, leading to 100% integration of the graft in the corneal tissue and consequently satisfactory results when it comes to integrity, functionality and aesthetics. The cases described, regarding clinical history, surgical techniques and final outcomes are in concordance with the studied literature, and support the premisse that these materials compose a good alternative to other corneal reconstruction surgical methods