Postoperative Outcomes of Pterygium Excision Surgery with Autograft Using Autologous Blood Versus Conventional Sutures

Introduction: Pterygium is an extremely common ocular condition believed to be occurring due to proliferation and overgrowth of abnormal epithelial and fibrovascular tissue onto the cornea. They are characterized by cellular proliferation, neovascularization, and inflammation. Ultraviolet rays (UVR) induced elastoid degeneration of subepithelial connective tissue, genetic alteration associated altered cytokine expression plays an important role in the pathogenesis of pterygium. The recent treatment entities include conjunctival autograft with good results. The most commonly used means of fixating conjunctival autografts is by sutures or fibrin glue.

Aim: This study aimed at comparative assessment of postoperative outcomes of pterygium excision surgery with autograft using autologous blood versus conventional sutures.

Methods: Forty post-operative cases of pterygium excision surgery with conjunctival autograft were enrolled in the study and serially followed up. The study included two groups of 20 patients each. Group-A included cases of pterygium excision with autograft using autologous blood, and Group-B included cases of pterygium excision with autograft and sutures. Post-operatively, patients were examined on the 1st, 7th and 30th day to document the graft loss. Graft stability was also assessed on day 1 in both groups. Final comparisons were documented in terms of graft edema, stability and recurrence. Also suture related complications like foreign body sensation, watering, discomfort, granuloma formation and suture abscess were assessed in follow-up.

Results: Group-B (suture group) revealed better graft stability whereas displacement of graft was documented in six cases of Group-A. Graft edema was reported in 10 cases from Group A and 7 cases from Group B. On the 30th day, all patients of both groups presented with similar findings. However, subjective discomfort was reported to be more in group-B as compared to group-A during each follow-up.

Conclusion: Issue of graft displacement was a critical challenge with autologous blood group (Group A) patients compared to suture-related complications in group B. Looking towards the evidence of less remarkable complications and almost similar outcomes, the surgeons dilemma on pterygium management still persists.