Evaluating The Effect Of High-frequency Radiowave Electrosurgery In Pterygium Excision Combined With Limbal Stem Cell Conjunctival Autografting

AIM:To observe the clinical results of pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell conjunctival autografting using high-frequency radiowave electrosurgery.METHODS:A retrospective study of 65 patients(108 eyes)with primary pterygium undergoing surgery at the Xiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center,from July 2016 to December 2017.Patients were randomly divided into two groups:the high-frequency radiowave electrosurgery group(observation group,54 eyes)and ophthalmic micro scalpel for group(control group,54 eyes).All patients underwent pterygium excision combined with limbal stem cell conjunctival autografting.In the observation group pterygium was removed with high-frequency radiowave electrosurgery while in control group ophthalmic micro scalpel was used.The patients were followed up from 3 mo to 18mo after surgery.The intraoperative bleeding time,the operation time,the intraoperative and postoperative pain,foreign body sensation,complications,and recurrence were evaluated All the data were processed using SPSS 19.0 software.P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.RESULTS:The average intraoperative bleeding time was 55.94±36.09(s)with observation group while 214.09±89.21(s)with control group,with statistically significant difference between two groups(P<0.05).The average surgical time was 507.39±104.88(s)with observation group while 645.11±152.16(s)with control group,with statistically significant difference between two groups(P<0.05).There is no significant difference(P>0.05)between two groups about the intraoperative pain index.Pain and foreign body sensation on the first postoperative day was significantly less with observation group than that in the control group(P<0.05).Two groups of patients were followed up for 3 to 18 months.3 cases of dry eye symptoms were observed in the observation group,and 6 cases of dry eye symptoms occurred in the control group.There was no recurrence in both groups.(P>0.05)There was no statistical significance.CONCLUSION:It is a safe and effective way to remove pterygium during pterygium surgery by high-frequency radio wave electrosurgery.It can reduce intraoperative bleeding time and surgical time,postoperative complications and relieve postoperative discomfort.