Use of an allogenous tunica vaginalis conserved in 98% glycerine for keratoplasty in dogs

Abstract

We evaluated the use of an allogenous tunica vaginalis conserved in 98% glycerine for lamellar keratoplasty in dogs. Sevendogs were submitted to keratoplasty and clinically evaluated during the initial (1 to 15 days), intermediate (16 to 30 days) and late(31 to 120 days) postoperative periods. The corneas were evaluated by light microscopy at 1, 3, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 120 days aftersurgery. Photophobia, epiphora, blepharospasm, corneal edema, ocular secretion and chemosis were observed during theinitial periods, and tended to disappear during the intermediate periods. Vascular neoformation started around the 4th day, witha maximum intensity on the 25th day and a gradual regression thereafter, and tended to disappear between the 60th and 120thday. The graft itself and adjacent areas showed a tendency towards the reestablishment of transparency during the latepostoperative periods. With respect to morphology, an inflammatory infiltrate characterized by the invasion of polymorphonuclearand mononuclear leukocytes was observed which disappeared by the 60th postoperative day, when the graft was found to beincorporated and the stroma returned to normal. The present results led us to conclude that the allogenous tunica vaginalisconserved in 98% glycerine was feasible and efficient for lamellar keratoplasty in dogs.