# Hydrodissection to create conjunctival flaps in dogs with corneal ulcers

## TL;DR

This study shows that hydrodissection helps create conjunctival flaps in dogs with corneal ulcers, offering no major differences in outcomes but improving surgical ease and patient comfort.

## Contribution

The study evaluates hydrodissection as a novel technique for creating conjunctival flaps in veterinary ophthalmology.

## Key findings

- Hydrodissection did not significantly affect operative time, bleeding, or post-operative complications compared to conventional methods.
- Flap suture dehiscence occurred in four patients, equally distributed between the two groups.
- Hydrodissection was found to be an easy and effective technique for flap construction, improving patient comfort.

## Abstract

Hydrodissection is a liquid injection technique that is rarely used in animal ophthalmic procedures. The use of this technique in the creation of conjunctival flaps for the treatment of corneal ulcers in dogs can improve the outcome, task, and comfort for patients. This study aimed to evaluate the use of hydrodissection in the creation of conjunctival flaps in dogs with corneal ulcers.

This study focused on a surgical procedure for creating conjunctival flaps in the eyes of 17 dogs with deep corneal ulcers. We divided the patients into two groups: Hydrodissection was performed in the first group (G1) and conventional divulsion without hydrodissection in the second group (G2). In G1, the conjunctival flap was created by subconjunctival injection of 1 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride, followed by flap construction. The flap was constructed through conventional divulsion using iris scissors in the G2. The operative time, degree of bleeding, and ease of conjunctival divulsion were evaluated during the procedure. Blepharospasm, hyperemia, edema, and scarring of the conjunctiva were evaluated during the post-operative period. Post-operative complications, notably suture dehiscence, were recorded in each group.

Hydrodissection is an easy-to-perform maneuver that optimizes the construction of conjunctival flaps. There were no statistical differences in the parameters used to evaluate the trans- and post-operative period between the groups. The volume of sodium chloride administered in the conjunctiva ranged from 0.5 mL to 1 mL in G1. Dehiscence of the flap sutures was observed in four patients (two in G1 and two in G2), with no significant difference between the groups.

Hydrodissection facilitates the construction of conjunctival flaps in dogs with corneal ulcers, affording greater comfort to patients and proving to be an excellent option for ophthalmologists.