Topical combined tranexamic acid and epinephrine versus topical epinephrine in control of intraoperative bleeding of external dacryocystorhinostomy.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of gauze soaked with combined tranexamic acid (TXA) (100 mg/ml) epinephrine 1:200,000 versus gauze soaked with only epinephrine 1:200,000 used to guard against intraoperative bleeding in external Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 33 patients; only 30 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were divided randomly into 2 groups using the random numbers table, with 15 patients in each group. The first group (Group A) was operated upon using gauze soaked with combined TXA (100 mg/ml) and epinephrine 1:200,000, while the second group (Group B) was operated upon using gauze soaked only with epinephrine 1:200,000. RESULTS: The amount of bleeding was significantly lower in group A (29.4 ± 17.1 ml) compared to group B (49.1 ± 18.1 ml), with a P value = 0.005. In addition, the number of used gauzes and total surgical time was significantly lower in group A compared to group B, with P value = 0.008 and 0.01 respectively. CONCLUSION: External DCR using gauze soaked with combined TXA (100 mg/ml) and epinephrine 1:200,000 showed a significant reduction in the amount of intraoperative bleeding compared to gauze soaked with epinephrine 1:200,000 only. The reduction in the amount of bleeding with the addition of TXA resulted in clearer surgical field, shorter surgical time and more surgeon satisfaction.Query.

Secondary Intraocular Lens Implantation After Simultaneous Penetrating Keratoplasty and Cataract Extraction for Coexisting Corneal and Lens Opacities.

PURPOSE: To report the results of a new approach to the 2-stage surgical management of coexisting visually significant corneal opacities and cataract. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of eyes with corneal opacities and cataract that were surgically treated with simultaneous penetrating keratoplasty and cataract surgery, followed by secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation after removal of corneal sutures, was conducted. The parameters used for assessment were the following: mean percentage of graft endothelial cell loss after IOL implantation, deviation of the postoperative mean spherical equivalent from the target refraction, and mean uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA). RESULTS: Twenty-nine eyes were included in the study. The mean baseline UDVA was 1.94 ± 0.46, and the mean baseline best-corrected distance visual acuity was 1.56 ± 0.42. The mean interval between the 2 surgical interventions was 13.3 ± 2.2 months. Just before secondary IOL implantation, the mean endothelial cell density was 2198 ± 311 cells. The mean percentage of corneal endothelial cell loss was 7.3% at 6 months after IOL implantation (P = 0.16). Before IOL implantation, the mean spherical equivalent was +11.75 ± 3.38 D. After IOL implantation, the mean spherical equivalent improved to -0.19 ± 0.93 D (P = 0.003) at 6 months. The mean UDVA improved to 0.34 ± 0.18 (P = 0.017), whereas the mean corrected distance visual acuity improved to 0.18 ± 0.29 at 6 months (P = 0.016). All grafted corneas maintained their clarity until the final follow-up visit. CONCLUSIONS: Postponing IOL implantation some months after simultaneous penetrating keratoplasty and cataract extraction has a negligible effect on the corneal graft endothelium and achieves near postoperative target refraction with significant improvement in UDVA.