Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery for deep corneal ulcers in dogs and sequestra in cats
By Dulaurent, Thomas et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2014·Centre Hospitalier Vé, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Use of bovine pericardium (Tutopatch®) graft for surgical repair of deep melting corneal ulcers in dogs and corneal sequestra in cats.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old male Labrador and two other dogs were treated for deep melting corneal ulcers, while three cats had corneal sequestra (a condition where dead tissue forms in the cornea). They all underwent surgery where a graft made from bovine pericardium was placed in the affected area. After surgery, the pets received antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. Most of the pets showed improvement, with their corneas healing and becoming clearer over time. However, one dog experienced complications and ultimately lost its vision.
People also search for: dog corneal ulcer treatment · cat corneal sequestrum surgery · bovine pericardium graft for pets
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of bovine pericardium (BP) graft in the treatment of deep melting corneal ulcers in three dogs and corneal sequestra in three cats. PROCEDURE: Three dogs with keratomalacia affecting the deep third of the stroma and three cats with corneal sequestrum were evaluated and underwent surgery. Following keratectomy, BP material was placed into the keratectomy bed and sutured to the recipient cornea with 9/0 polyglactin suture material. Postoperative treatment with topical and systemic antibiotics, systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and topical atropine was prescribed. Follow-up examinations were carried out 1, 2 weeks, 1 and 2 months after the surgery and consisted of a complete ophthalmic examination. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed 1 and 2 months after the surgery in one dog and in one cat. RESULTS: At 1 week, corneal neovascularization was present around the BP graft in all cases. Four weeks after the BP graft, in two dogs and in all cats, the vascularization was regressing and the graft was integrated into the cornea, which was regaining transparency. Topical treatment with anti-inflammatory agents was then prescribed for 2 weeks. Two months after the surgery, 5 of 6 corneas in two dogs and three cats had healed with focal corneal scarring. The remaining dog had progression of the keratomalacia involving the deep BP graft that required additional surgery, but became blind. CONCLUSION: Bovine pericardium graft offers a promising option for surgical reconstruction of the cornea following keratectomy for the management of corneal ulcers and sequestra.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23621151/