Low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation and autologous conjunctival transplantation for pterygium excision.

Abstract Background/Aims: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation combined with autologous conjunctival transplantation for pterygium excision. Methods: In order to verify the safety of low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation, we conducted animal experiments to observe corneal structure by anterior segment photography, anterior optical coherence tomography, HE staining and immunohistochemistry(MMP-9,TNF-a) before and after corneal burning at different ablation energies (20, 15, 10, 0J/cm2)and different point in time(0,3d,1w,2w). Then, we observed preoperative and postoperative treatment effect of 121 eyes of 120 patients with primary pterygium from June 2018 to June 2020. 59 patients treated with pterygium excision and autologous conjunctival transplantation, 61 patients treated with pterygium excision by low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation and autologous conjunctival transplantation. The time to strip the pterygium, the integrity of the cornea and the number of inflammatory cell infiltration were observed and recorded. All patients were followed up for 18 months to observe whether the pterygium recurred. Results: The animal experiment confirmed that suitable low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation energies has no damage to the corneal tissue structure. Only one case recurred during the year of follow-up. Low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation can reduce the time to strip the pterygium, can better maintain the integrity of the damaged cornea and reduce the number of inflammatory cell infiltration, can reduce recurrence rate. Conclusions: Low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation combined with autologous conjunctival transplantation is an safety and effective pterygium excision.