ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To report our clinical experience and 4-year follow-up results of Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) with the suture pull-through insertion technique. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 195 eyes in which a posterior lamellar keratoplasty was performed between 2007 and 2011. The insertion of a folded donor lenticule was performed with a double-armed 10-0 suture using a straight transchamber needle and half-circle needle. Endothelial cell density was measured annually up to 4 years after the surgery, and cell loss was calculated based on the median preoperative donor endothelial cell density. Postoperative complications, primary graft failure, pupillary block, and dislocation of the donor tissue were assessed. RESULTS: All patients underwent uncomplicated DSAEK. Data were available for 195 eyes (100%) at 1 year, 186 eyes (95.3%) at 2 years, 176 eyes (90.2%) at 3 years, and 160 eyes (82%) at 4 years. Median preop-erative donor endothelial cell density was 2688 cells/mm2 [interquartile range (IQR) 207.5 cells/mm2], which decreased by 27% at 1 year (1956 cells/mm2, IQR 264.8 cells/mm2), 31% at 2 years (1855 cells/mm2, IQR 320.5 cells/mm2), 35% at 3 years (1756.5 cells/mm2, IQR 306.5 cells/mm2), and 36% at 4 years (1709.5 cells/mm2, IQR 288,0 cells/mm2). Nine patients (4.6%) had a dislocation of donor tissue; all were successfully reattached with a second air injection. Only three eyes (1.5%) developed graft failure. Pupillary block was present in 15 eyes (7.7%). CONCLUSION: DSAEK with suture pull-through insertion of donor graft represents a simplified and safe technique that has endothelial cell loss comparable with other techniques and low rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy and safety of amniotic membrane transplantation for trabeculectomy in patients with previous failed filtering blebs. METHODS: A consecutive series of 19 eyes from 18 patients with 1 or more failed trabeculectomies were enrolled in this retrospective study. Trabeculectomy, with amniotic membrane positioned as a "graft" under the scleral flap, was performed, and the intraocular pressure (IOP), number of antiglaucoma medications, appearance of the filtering bleb, and intraoperative and postoperative complication data were retrospectively analyzed for a period of 24 months. Success was defined as IOP<21 mm Hg at the end of the follow-up period. RESULTS: The median preoperative pressure was 29 mm Hg [interquartile range (IQR)=5 mm Hg], with an average of 2.8 glaucoma medications (range, 1 to 4). At 6 months postoperatively the median IOP was 18 mm Hg (IQR=1.75 mm Hg) with no further significant increases recorded, settling at 19 mm Hg (IQR=3.25 mm Hg) at the end of the 24-month follow-up. Success was achieved in all 19 cases (100%), and only 1 patient (5%) required postoperative antiglaucoma therapy to reach the target pressure. At 24 months after surgery, 18 of 19 (95%) amniotic membrane filtering blebs were functioning well without antiglaucoma therapy. No patients had severe intraoperative or postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Amniotic membrane transplantation in trabeculectomy seems to be a safe and useful procedure for improving the surgical outcome and maintaining low postoperative IOP in patients with a high risk of surgical failure.
