Comparison of three injector systems for Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty

Session Details

Session Title: Cornea Surgical I

Session Date/Time: Monday 12/09/2016 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 08:52

Venue: Hall C1

First Author: : K.Droutsas GREECE

Co Author(s): :    A. Lazaridis   S. Spyridoula   L. Giallouros   C. Koutsandrea   W. Sekundo        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The present study compares the safety of 3 commercially available injector devices used for DMEK

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps University of Marburg, Germany

Methods:

The present retrospective interventional case series included all DMEK surgeries performed at a single center with a completed 12 month follow-up. According to the injector system used, 3 groups were formed: group 1 (D.O.R.C. injector), group 2 (Geuder injector) and group 3 (Pasteur laboratory pipette). Endothelial cell density (ECD) and endothelial cell loss were evaluated before and at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively; surgery-related complications and Rebubbling rate were recorded

Results:

Eighty-six consecutive DMEK surgeries were included (group1: n=16, group2: n=24 and group3: n= 46). ECD before surgery was 2416±179cells/mm2 (group1), 2417±164cells/mm2 (group2) and 2486±219cells/mm2 (group3). At 12 months after surgery ECD was 1473±403cells/mm2 (group1), 1379±317cells/mm2 (group2) and 1353±500cells/mm2 (group3) (P=0.289, ANOVA). Endothelial cell loss at 12 months after surgery was 39±15% (group1), 43±13% (group2) and 45±18% (group3). Iris bleeding during graft insertion was noted in two cases (group 3) and reflux of the graft out of the anterior chamber in one case (group 2). Partial graft detachment occurred in group 1 (n=1), group 2 (n=5) and group 3 (n=9) and Rebubbling was performed in 6% (group1), 17% (group ) and 17% (group3).

Conclusions:

To our knowledge this is the first clinical study assessing the safety of three different DMEK injectors. Although not statistically significant, the D.O.R.C. injector caused the least and the Pasteur pipette the highest endothelial cell loss.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE