Comparison of fibrin glue and sutures for conjunctival closure in pars plana vitrectomy.

Abstract

Evaluating whether fibrin glue causes less postoperative pain, discomfort, and sick leave in conjunctival closure following 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy than sutures. Retrospective study. A questionnaire was sent in 2006 to 506 patients who underwent 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy in 2004 at University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium. Postoperative pain, eye discomfort, and sick leave duration were determined. The patients in the glue group had a shorter duration of eye redness (P = .0471), eye discomfort (P = .0376), and ointment use (P = .0105). The patients in the glue group used less ointment (P = .0038), had shorter sick leave with independent workers (P = .0292), and experienced less pain on the first postoperative day after vitrectomy without cerclage (P = .0340). Fibrin glue causes less postoperative pain, discomfort, and sick leave for closure of conjunctival wounds in 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy than sutures, and therefore, appears in our hands to be a better alternative to sutures.