Use of bovine pericardium (Tutopatch®) graft for surgical repair of deep melting corneal ulcers in dogs and corneal sequestra in cats.

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.