[Use of fibrin glue in ocular surgery]. / Utilização de adesivo de fibrina em cirurgias oftalmológicas.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of fibrin glue and its complications in different ophthalmic surgeries. METHODS: A retrospective and non-comparative case series study. 161 eyes were evaluated. The mean age was 51.8 years. Fibrin glue (Beriplast--Aventis Behring, Germany) was used in all patients for tissue adherence or incisional closure. RESULTS: Main preoperatives diseases were pterygium (76 patients), superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (4 patients), limbal tumor (4 patients), conjunctivochalasis (21 patients), bullous keratopathy (31 patients), limbal stem cell deficiency (7 patients), alkali injury (6 patients), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2 patients), cataract (5 patients) and glaucoma (5 patients). Complications occurred in 28 patients (17.4%). Detachment of the fixed tissue and granulomatous foreign body reaction were the main complications. Detachment occurred in 10 cases (5.6%) (7 in amniotic membrane transplantation in bullous keratopathy, 2 in autologous conjunctival grafting for pterygium surgery, 1 in autologous limbal transplantation in a Stevens-Johnson syndrome). Granulomatous foreign body reaction was described in 9 patients (5.6%) (5 in amniotic membrane transplantation due to acute alkali injury, 1 in autologous limbal graft due to chronic burn injury, and 3 in autologous conjunctival transplant due to pterygium surgery). All the complications described occurred in the first week after surgery. CONCLUSION: Despite the limitations related to the retrospective and non-comparative setting, this study suggests that the use of fibrin glue seems to be safe and effective for tissue fixation or incisional closure presenting low rates of complications in ocular surface and anterior segment surgeries.

Cataract and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence of cataract and the possible factors associated with cataract in young type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: 293 patients were evaluated. The association of cataract with diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinal laser treatment, hypertension, body mass index, peripheral neuropathy, lipid profile, glycemic control, serum creatinine and albuminuria was evaluated. RESULTS: Cataract was present in 19.8% (n=58) of the sample. Patients with cataracts were older, had a higher frequency of history of retina photocoagulation treatment, higher serum creatinine values and higher prevalence of arterial hypertension. There was a progressive increase in cataract frequency according to the number of risk factors, starting to rise with two or more. In logistic regression model cataract was associated with mild/moderate DR (odd ratio (OR) 4.28 95% CI 1.63-11.29), severe DR (OR 4.07 95% CI 1.63-10.23) and macroalbuminuria (OR 2.34 95% CI 1.06-5.16). CONCLUSION: These data indicate a high prevalence of cataract in subjects with type 1 DM attending a general hospital in Southern Brazil and suggest that the more severe the disease process the greater is the risk of having this diabetic complication. Cataract should be suspected in young patients with two or more risk factors.

[Cataract and type 1 diabetes mellitus]. / Catarata e diabetes mellitus tipo 1.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of cataract and associated risk factors in a diabetic type 1 population. METHODS: 181 patients (362 eyes) were evaluated in a case-control study. Cases were classified when cataract was present at the time of the examination. The studied outcomes were the presence of diabetic retinopathy, retinal panphotocoagulation, high blood pressure, peripheral neuropathy, total cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, HDL, LDL, body mass index, creatinine levels, albuminuria, glycosylated hemoglobin and glycemia levels. RESULTS: Cataract was present in 19.9% of the studied patients. The association of the presence of cataract and diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, elevated levels of creatinine, panphotocoagulation and high blood pressure were statistically significant (univariate analysis). After the logistic regression analysis the presence of cataract was significantly associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cataract was 19.9% and the presence and severity of the diabetic retinopathy were the main risk factors for its development.

[Experience with Dohlman-Doane keratoprosthesis: case reports]. / Experiência inicial com a ceratoprótese de Dohlman-Doane: relato de casos.

PURPOSE: To describe 9 eyes in 8 patients who received Dohlman-Doane type 1 keratoprosthesis (KPro) with a mean follow-up of 11.2 months (2 to 25 months). METHODS: A retrospective, non-comparative interventional case series. Previous corneal disease was alcaline burn in 4 eyes, multiple graft failure in 3 eyes, Stevens-Johnson syndrome in 1 eye and thermal injury in 1 eye. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was hand motions or worse in all patients. Glaucoma was present preoperatively in 3 eyes and received Ahmed valve implantation. RESULTS: 88,9% eyes achieved BCVA of better than or equal to 20/100, and 44,4% better than or equal to 20/40. In the postoperative period, 3 eyes developed posterior capsule opacity treated with YAG laser capsulotomy; 3 retroprosthetic membrane treated with tPA injection or steroids; 2 glaucoma in clinical treatment; 1 corneal melting, treated with donor cornea bottom exchange; and 1 fungic endophthalmitis, treated with corneal transplant, anterior vitrectomy, KPro and intraocular lens explantation, and specific intravitreal and endovenous treatment. CONCLUSION: Dohlman-Doane K-Pro seems to be a good option for cases of corneal blindness with poor prognosis for traditional penetrating keratoplasty. Its main advantage is not requesting systemic immunossuppression. Best results were achieved in non-immune diseases.

Diagnóstico epidemiológico de evisceração em cirurgia geral / Epidemiological diagnosis of evisceration in general surgery

Objetivo: Quantificar a experiência clínica do Serviço de Cirurgia Geral do Complexo Hospitalar da Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, criando um diagnóstico epidemiológico de demanda e traçando um perfil do paciente de risco de evisceração, através da análise do manejo e conduta mais adequados. Método: No período de 2000 a 2001, foram estudados prospectivamente 1182 pacientes submetidos a laparotomias, dos quais 13 evoluiram com evisceração. Resultados: Dos 13 pacientes eviscerados, 69,2% eram homens, com idade média de 55,9 anos. A neoplasia foi a patologia de base mais prevalente (61,5%), e o tempo médio deevisceração foi de 12,1 dias. A albumina sérica média encontrada foi de 2,8 g/dl e a sutura contínua a técnica de fechamento mais utilizada no Serviço. Conclusão: O perfil do paciente eviscerado nesta série,inclui homenscom mais de 50 anos e obesos, com doença maligna e hipoalbuminemia. Esses pacientes têm maior probabilidade de desenvolver complicações locais, tais como infecção e aumento da pressão intra-abdominal, contribuindo para a deiscência total da parede abdominal. A análise destes fatores deve ser imperiosa na decisão de ancoragem primária dessa população.

Background: To quantify the clinical experience and epidemiological diagnosis of eviscerations, creating a profile of risk factors. Methods: During the years 2000 to 2001, 1182 patients were studied, including 13 with eviscerations, followed prospectively by research protocol. Results: Of 13 cases of evisceration, 69,2% were men, with mean age of 55,9 years. Neoplasic disease was the most frequent base disease (61,5%) and the mean time of evisceration was 12,1days. The meanalbumin serum level found was 2.8g/dl and continuous suture was the most frequent abdominal wall closure technique. Conclusion: The profile of patient for evisceration include men, obeses, older than 50 years with malignant disease and hipoalbuminemia. These patient have high risk to developlocal complications such as infection and elevation of intra-abdominal pressure, and, abdominal wall dehiscence. The analisis of risks factors must be mandatory in decision of primary ancorage of this population.