[Bioadhesives in ocular surgery]

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the histological inflammatory activity that bioadhesives such as fibrin, cyanoacrylate, unsutured valved closure and suturing, generate when applied on scleral tissue.

Methods: We used a total of 80 eyes of 80 white rabbits which we divided into 8 groups of ten eyes each and distributed according to the two periods of time (1 week and 30 days) and four technique used for closure: 10/0 nylon suture, sutureless self-sealing, cyanoacrylate glue (Histoacryl), and fibrin glue (Tissucol). ANOVA was used for the statistical study of histological inflammation. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for the study of the degree of healing.

Results: After 7 days, the fibrin bioadhesive led to greater inflammatory response than did the other techniques (p<0.001). The cyanoacrylate adhesive caused less inflammatory activity than did suturing material (p<0.005). On day 30, the inflammatory reaction generated by the fibrin and cyanoacrylate adhesives was greater than of the suturing and self valved closure technique (p<0.005). After 7 days, the degree of healing with the suture, sutureless technique and cyanoacrylate adhesive was incomplete, while healing was moderate with the fibrin glue. After 30 days the degree of healing with cyanoacrylate glue was incomplete. At this time the degree of healing, with the suture, sutureless technique and fibrin adhesive was complete.

Conclusions: Fibrin causes greater inflammatory reaction than do the other techniques. The cyanoacrylate adhesive shows a biological tolerance identical to the suture technique. This shows that cyanoacrylate bioadhesives are a viable alternative to suturing in scleral surgery.