Long-term outcomes of therapeutic corneal transplants performed in a tertiary eye care hospital in South India

Purpose: This study aimed to review the demographics, clinical characteristics, and long?term outcomes of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) performed in a tertiary eye care hospital. Methods: Case records of 149 therapeutic transplants (135 patients) that were performed during the calendar year 2016 were retrospectively analyzed, and outcomes were measured until 3 years of follow?up. Information on demographics, presentation characteristics, keratoplasty indications, offending microbe, and secondary surgical interventions was studied. The final outcome was classified in terms of therapeutic, anatomical, and functional outcomes. Results: The median age of the recipients was 55 years with 61% men. The most common indications for TPK were perforated infectious ulcer (45.9%), nonhealing ulcers (29.9%), and graft infections (17.4%). Fungal etiology was noted in 61.2% and bacterial etiology in 17.4% of the eyes. Therapeutic success was achieved in 130 eyes (89%) at the end of 1 month. Anatomical success was achieved in 130 (98.5%) and 88 patients (86.3%) at the end of 1 and 6 months, respectively. At the 6?month time point, 78 patients (76.5%) attained functional success with vision better than light perception. Three?year follow?up data were available for 23.7% of recipients, of which only 12 patients (37.5%) retained a clear graft either after a primary therapeutic or secondary optical keratoplasty. Conclusion: Therapeutic keratoplasty is highly effective in eradicating infection and providing anatomical integrity. However, timely intervention can aid in achieving the best functional outcome.

Resultados de los pacientes operados de queratoplastia terapéutica en la provincia de Matanzas

Introducción: la queratoplastia terapéutica se define como un procedimiento cuyo propósito es contribuir a erradicar o reducir la infección cuando la terapia médica máxima no es eficaz para lograr este fin. Objetivo: evaluar la evolución y resultados de los pacientes operados de queratoplastia terapéutica. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en un universo de 15 pacientes con diagnóstico de úlcera grave corneal. Dichos pacientes fueron operados de queratoplastia terapéutica en el Servicio de Córnea del Hospital Universitario Comandante Faustino Pérez Hernández, de la provincia de Matanzas, entre abril de 2017 y febrero de 2020, y dieron su consentimiento informado para participar en la investigación. Resultados: predominó el sexo masculino, con un 53,3 % y una media de edad de 58,8 años. Como factores predisponentes, prevaleció el antecedente de trauma en el 33,3 %, seguido del uso de lentes de contacto y la diabetes mellitus como enfermedad sistémica asociada. Las úlceras de etiología micótica predominaron en el 26,6 % de los casos; la perforación corneal y el descemetocele se presentaron en el 40 % y 26,6 % de los pacientes respectivamente. Durante el primer mes, las complicaciones postoperatorias más frecuentes fueron la recidiva de la sepsis y la necrosis del injerto. Por su parte, la opacidad y vascularización corneal fueron las secuelas más frecuentes. Conclusiones: la demora en iniciar el protocolo de tratamiento adecuado provoca cuadros severos de la enfermedad, realizando queratoplastia "en caliente" en córneas perforadas o con necrosis, que devienen complicaciones postoperatorias y secuelas no alentadoras para los pacientes.

Introduction: therapeutic keratoplasty is defined as a procedure whose purpose is to help eradicate or reduce the infection when maximum medical therapy is not efficacious to achieve this end. Objective: to evaluate the evolution and results of the patients operated on therapeutic keratoplasty. Materials and methods: a cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in a universe of 15 patients with a diagnosis of severe corneal ulcer. The patients underwent therapeutic keratoplasty surgeries in the Cornea Service of the Clinical Surgical University Hospital Comandante Faustino Perez Hernandez, in the province of Matanzas, between April 2017 and May 2020, and gave their informed consent to participate in the research. Results: male gender predominated, with 53.3% and a mean age of 58.8 years. As predisposing factors, trauma antecedent predominated in 33.3%, followed by the use of contact lenses and diabetes mellitus as associated systemic disease. Ulcers of mycotic etiology predominated in 26.6% of the cases; corneal perforation and descemetoceles occurred in 40% and 26.6% of the cases respectively. During the first month, the most frequent postsurgery complications were recidival sepsis and graft necrosis. On the other hand, corneal opacity and vascularization were the most frequent sequels. Conclusions: the delay in initiating the adequated protocol treatment causes severe symptoms of the disease that lead to "in hot" keratoplasty in perforated or necrosed corneas, causing postsurgery complications and non-encouraging sequels for patients.

Factores predisponentes a queratoplastia terapéutica en los pacientes con úlcera grave de la córnea / Predisposing factors for therapeutic keratoplasty in patients with severe corneal ulcer

RESUMEN Objetivo: Describir los factores predisponentes a la queratoplastia terapéutica en los pacientes con úlcera grave de la córnea. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, con una muestra de 64 pacientes que fueron operados en el Servicio de Córnea del Instituto Cubano de Oftalmología Ramón Pando Ferrer, de enero del año 2011 a diciembre de 2014. Resultados: La muestra se caracterizó según las variables sociodemográficas edad (promedio de 51,3 ± 2,9); sexo (el 67,2 por ciento correspondió al masculino); y grupos etarios de riesgo (el 83,3 por ciento fueron agricultores y el 74,6 por ciento urbanos). Los traumatismos más frecuentes fueron ocasionados por cuerpos extraños (26,6 por ciento), lentes de contacto (9,4 por ciento) y quemaduras por agentes químicos (6,3 por ciento). Los pacientes recibieron tratamiento en el 82,8 por ciento durante 22,5 ± 4,6 días previos al ingreso y 6,9 días antes de la queratoplastia. Los resultados microbiológicos revelaron un 88,2 por ciento de positividad. Los hongos filamentosos y las bacterias fueron los aislamientos más frecuentes. Conclusiones: El sexo masculino, las labores agrícolas, el tratamiento ambulatorio con un tiempo de duración previo a la queratoplastia entre 18 y 27 días y los hongos filamentosos como agente etiológico se consideran factores de riesgo a queratoplastia terapéutica en las úlceras corneales(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective: Describe the predisposing factors for therapeutic keratoplasty in patients with severe corneal ulcer. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted of a sample of 64 patients admitted to the Cornea Service of Ramón Pando Ferrer Cuban Institute of Ophthalmology from January 2011 to December 2014. Results: The sample was characterized according to the following sociodemographic variables: age (mean of 51.3 ± 2.9); sex (67.2 percent were male), and risk age groups (83.3 percent were farmers and 74.6 percent were urban). The most common traumas were caused by foreign bodies (26.6 percent), contact lenses (9.4 percent) and chemical burns (6.3 percent). 82.8 percent of the patients received treatment during 22.5 ± 4.6 days before admission and 6.9 days before keratoplasty. Microbiological results revealed 88.2 percent positivity. Filamentous fungi and bacteria were the most common isolates. Conclusions: Male sex, farming, outpatient treatment for 18 to 27 days before keratoplasty and filamentous fungi as etiological agents, are considered to be risk factors for therapeutic keratoplasty in corneal ulcers(AU)

A Case of Therapeutic Keratoplasty Using Cryo-preservative Cornea in Candida albicans Keratitis

PURPOSE: To report a case treated with therapeutic keratoplasty using a cryo-preserved cornea in a patient with Candida albicans keratitis. CASE SUMMARY: A 77-year-old female visited our clinic because of left ocular pain and visual disturbance for 3 days. Microscopic slit lamp examination revealed a 1.2 mm sized round corneal epithelial defect with deep stromal infiltration, brownish pigmentation and signs of inflammation with cyclitic membranes in the anterior chamber. On suspicion of Candida keratitis, we performed penetrating keratoplasty using a cryo-preserved donor cornea in Optisol-GS® (Bausch & Lomb, Irvine, CA, USA) solution with excision of the infected iris and colony of the anterior chamber. After the procedure, injection of intravitreal or intracameral amphotericin B and voriconazole were administered alternately. At 2 weeks after the second surgery, infection signs disappeared. At the follow-up in the outpatient clinic, signs of infection were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic keratoplasty using a cryo-preserved donor cornea can be an immediate and effective therapeutic strategy for Candida albicans keratitis.

Clinical Results of Penetrating Keratoplasty in Corneal Perforation

Therapeutic keratoplasties for 7 patients (7 eyes) with the corneal perforation were performed at St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College, from November 1988 to December 1991 for about 3 years. The causative diseases of corneal perforation were herpes simplex keratitis in 2 eyes (28.6%), corneal ulcers after trauma in 2 eyes (28.6%), and keratitis of unknown etiology in 3 eyes (42.9%). Postoperative complications were cataract (2 eyes; 28.6%), synechiaes(2 eyes; 28.6%), glaucoma (1 eye; 14.3%)' endophthalmitis (1 eye; 14.3%) and graft failure (1 eye; 14.3%). Among the 7 grafted corneas, clear corneas were noted in 2 eyes (28.6%), but opaque corneas developed in 4 eyes (57.1 %), and eVIsceration was performed in 1 eye (14.3%) due to endophthalmitis. After keratoplasty, the visual acuity was over 0.1 in lout of the 6 eyes. In the corneal perforation, it was good to delay keratoplasty until the intraocular inflammation was subsided, but we preferred to do the keratoplasty immediately for large perforation or removal of the causative disease.