Amniotic membrane grafting in the management of conjunctival vascular malformations

Vascular malformations of the conjunctiva are symptomatically distressing and surgically challenging. Because their expansive nature necessitates broad conjunctival sacrifice in some cases, epithelial reconstitution may be the best way to avoid symblepharon formation. Amniotic membrane grafts have been useful for conjunctival reconstruction after excision of squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma but have not been used after excision of extensive conjunctival vascular malformations. The authors report the use of amniotic membrane grafts in the management of large conjunctival vascular malformations.

The authors reviewed the clinical records and photographs of 4 patients with combined orbital and conjunctival vascular malformations. The operative details including amniotic membrane grafting and postoperative results were included. The average follow-up period was 9 months.

Four patients underwent a total of 6 resections; 2 patients required reoperation. Three of these lesions were lymphatic and 1 was venous. Dehydrated amniotic membrane was initially used in 2 patients who were subsequently grafted with cryopreserved amniotic membrane. Postoperative trauma in 1 case and staged surgery in the other necessitated these second surgeries. Cryopreserved amniotic grafting was successful in all 4 patients with no signs of graft dislocation, rejection, or tumor overgrowth after an average postoperative period of 9 months.

Large conjunctival vascular malformations, when extensively resected, leave large, denuded epibulbar and palpebral surfaces that would likely produce severe symblepharon. Conversely, incomplete resection can lead to early recurrent growth. Commercially available amniotic membrane grafts now provide a method for reconstructing these defects, allowing more extensive resection of the tumor.