RESUMEN
Purpose: To assess the long?term outcome of graft insertion by taco technique through a 2.8?mm clear corneal incision in patients undergoing Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). Methods: This is a retrospective interventional case series of 77 eyes of 75 patients who underwent DSAEK in a tertiary eye hospital. The DSAEK donor grafts were folded to an uneven 70/30 taco and held at a single point using Utrata forceps. All insertions were through a 2.8?mm clear corneal incision except the two aphakic patients requiring combined SFIOL implantation. All patients underwent a comprehensive eye examination preoperatively and were followed up to 6 years postoperatively. Visual outcomes, graft clarity, and complications of all and endothelial cell loss in 22 patients with available postop specular microscopy were analyzed. Results: Overall, 59 (76.6%) had clear grafts until the final follow?up. Visual acuity improved in 48 (62.3%) from an average of 1.3 to 0.8 logMAR (P = 0.0001). Vision was maintained in seven and worsened in four eyes. Grafts failed in 18 (23.3%) eyes: seven (9%) were primary failures, two post rejection, four done for failed PK did not clear, four due to worsening of preexisting glaucoma, and one noncompliant failed eventually. Average endothelial cell density reduction was 26.3% (mean preop donor 2419 to postop 1779 cells/mm2; P = 0.000). Conclusion: Our study shows good long?term clinical outcome of DSAEK using Taco technique through a 2.8?mm clear corneal incision in a tertiary hospital
RESUMEN
Purpose: To study the outcomes of rebubbling for graft detachment after Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) or Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). Methods: From 2260 eyes that underwent DSEK or DSAEK from July 2008 to June 2015, 80 eyes of 80 patients developed graft detachment and were retrospectively reviewed. Host-related, surgery-related and donor-related factors that have a bearing on graft adhesion were looked at retrospectively, and eventual outcomes after rebubbling procedure were studied. Results: Successful attachment was observed in 77 (96.25%) eyes and clear grafts were achieved in 55 (68.75%) eyes, while 25 (31.25%) eyes had graft failure. The uncorrected and best-corrected distance visual acuities significantly improved from 1 month to 3 months post-operatively and remained stable till 12 months of follow-up. Three lenticules that failed to attach with the first rebubbling procedure underwent a second rebubbling, two underwent a repeat DSEK with good outcomes and four underwent penetrating keratoplasty. On evaluating possible risk factors for graft failure, lower donor endothelial cell density was found to be a significant factor (P = 0.03). The median graft survival following rebubbling was 30 months. Conclusion: Rebubbling procedure in detached grafts after DSEK or DSAEK can reattach the lenticule in 96% of eyes in immediate post-operative period and the majority of the grafts remained clear on long-term follow-up with a median graft survival period of 2.5 years.