Mohit Parekh1,2, Alessandro Ruzza1, Bernhard Steger3, Colin E Willoughby4, Salwah Rehman5,6, Stefano Ferrari1, Diego Ponzin1, Stephen B Kaye5,6, Vito Romano5,6,7. 1. International Center for Ocular Physiopathology, The Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, Venice, Italy. 2. Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. 4. School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. 5. Department of Ophthalmology, St. Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom. 6. Department of Eye and Vision Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom. 7. Instituto Universitario Fernandez-Vega, Universidad de Oviedo and Fundacion de Investigacion on Oftalmologica, Oviedo, Spain.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of preloaded large-diameter ultra-thin grafts for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) after cross-country shipment. METHODS: A laboratory study in an eye bank and a clinical cohort study in an academic tertiary care center were performed. UT-DSAEK (9.5 mm diameter) grafts (n = 7) were prepared, loaded into a commercial device (iGlide; Eurobio, Les Ulis, France), preserved for 4 days at room temperature in transport medium, and analyzed. In a retrospective study, preloaded tissues (n = 39) for clinical use were prepared, transported from Italy to the United Kingdom, and surgically delivered into the eyes of patients undergoing UT-DSAEK. Central and peripheral endothelial cell density (ECD) and viability were measured before and after loading and storage of the grafts in the laboratory study. Clinically, best-corrected visual acuity, ECD before and at final follow-up, dislocation rate, primary graft failure, and surgical time were recorded. RESULTS: In the laboratory study, postcut central graft thickness was 93.3 ± 17.2 μm. ECD and cell mortality did not change significantly before and after preservation (P = 0.8). Cell loss after 4 days of preservation was 1.7% ± 1.6%. Clinically, 39 eyes of 39 patients at final follow-up showed a mean central graft thickness of 88 ± 22 μm and a best-corrected visual acuity of 0.34 ± 0.24 logMAR. Nine of 39 cases (23%) needed rebubbling, and 28% cell loss was observed at final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Large-diameter UT-DSAEK grafts can be prepared and preloaded in the eye bank using the iGlide and transported to the surgical center facilitating surgery for patients undergoing UT-DSAEK, potentially reducing tissue wastage, surgical time, and costs related to surgery.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of preloaded large-diameter ultra-thin grafts for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) after cross-country shipment. METHODS: A laboratory study in an eye bank and a clinical cohort study in an academic tertiary care center were performed. UT-DSAEK (9.5 mm diameter) grafts (n = 7) were prepared, loaded into a commercial device (iGlide; Eurobio, Les Ulis, France), preserved for 4 days at room temperature in transport medium, and analyzed. In a retrospective study, preloaded tissues (n = 39) for clinical use were prepared, transported from Italy to the United Kingdom, and surgically delivered into the eyes of patients undergoing UT-DSAEK. Central and peripheral endothelial cell density (ECD) and viability were measured before and after loading and storage of the grafts in the laboratory study. Clinically, best-corrected visual acuity, ECD before and at final follow-up, dislocation rate, primary graft failure, and surgical time were recorded. RESULTS: In the laboratory study, postcut central graft thickness was 93.3 ± 17.2 μm. ECD and cell mortality did not change significantly before and after preservation (P = 0.8). Cell loss after 4 days of preservation was 1.7% ± 1.6%. Clinically, 39 eyes of 39 patients at final follow-up showed a mean central graft thickness of 88 ± 22 μm and a best-corrected visual acuity of 0.34 ± 0.24 logMAR. Nine of 39 cases (23%) needed rebubbling, and 28% cell loss was observed at final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Large-diameter UT-DSAEK grafts can be prepared and preloaded in the eye bank using the iGlide and transported to the surgical center facilitating surgery for patients undergoing UT-DSAEK, potentially reducing tissue wastage, surgical time, and costs related to surgery.
Authors: Kevin W Ross; Christopher G Stoeger; George O D Rosenwasser; Robert C OʼBrien; Loretta B Szczotka-Flynn; Allison R Ayala; Maureen G Maguire; Beth Ann Benetz; Patricia Dahl; Donna C Drury; Steven P Dunn; Sameera M Farazdaghi; Caroline K Hoover; Marian S Macsai; Shahzad I Mian; Michael L Nordlund; Jeffrey G Penta; Mark C Soper; Mark A Terry; David D Verdier; Doyce V Williams; Jonathan H Lass Journal: Cornea Date: 2019-09 Impact factor: 3.152
Authors: Stephen Wahlig; Gary S L Peh; Khadijah Adnan; Heng-Pei Ang; Chan N Lwin; F Morales-Wong; Hon Shing Ong; Matthew Lovatt; Jodhbir S Mehta Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2020-02-03 Impact factor: 4.379