Posters

Tectonic keratoplasty with the use of donor cornea preserved in ethanol as a temporary measure for non-infectious total corneal melt with perforation: a case report

Poster Details

First Author: A.Lazaridis GREECE

Co Author(s):    S. Souki   K. Andreanos   A. Mouchtouris   D. Brouzas   C. Koutsandrea   K. Droutsas     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To describe the use of donor cornea preserved in ethanol for tectonic keratoplasty in a case of non-infectious total corneal melt with perforation.

Setting:

Tertiary referral center for corneal diseases

Methods:

A 72 year old woman with a long-standing, not specified angiitis presented with a total melt and central perforation of her right cornea. The tectonic integrity of the globe was restored by suturing a donor corneoscleral disc from which the Descemet membrane and endothelium had been removed and used for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) of another patient. The corneoscleral button had been preserved for a week in ethanol at 4°C.

Results:

Until the last follow-up exam at 3 months postoperatively the anterior chamber was deep and quiet. Interestingly, the donor cornea was relatively clear with only slight stromal edema.

Conclusions:

The successful use of ethanol-preserved donor cornea leftover after DMEK graft preparation for emergency tectonic keratoplasty is described. The procedure was performed as a temporary measure in order to avoid immediate globe-threatening complications such as expulsive hemorrhage or endophthalmitis. Furthermore, this indication allowed surgical treatment of two patients with only one corneal graft, hence, one patient receiving the endothelium in DMEK surgery and another patient receiving the corneoscleral button in tectonic keratoplasty.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE