The use of autogenous rabbit fibrin sealant to plug retinal holes in experimental detachments.
Posterior retinal breaks subject to unrelieved traction may be difficult to close using current techniques of vitreoretinal surgery. We have evaluated a biodegradable, nontoxic sealant to temporarily plug retinal breaks in an experimental model. Thirteen adult rabbits underwent lens removal, vitrectomy, and posterior retinal hole and retinal detachment formation in both eyes. An autogenous fibrin sealant was freshly prepared for each case by adding CaCl2 to centrifuged plasma from the rabbit's citrated blood sample and mixing it with 500 micron/mL of bovine thrombin. This coagulum was injected into and under the retinal hole in one eye; the other eye served as a control. The intraocular fibrin sealant appeared nontoxic and noninflammatory. No clinical difference was found between sealant-treated and control eyes during four to nine weeks of observation. Histologic findings were similar in both groups.