Abstract
Purpose: :
To report donor endothelial cell count and pachymetry after Descemet’s Stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) for the treatment of endothelial dysfunction. Main outcome measures were postoperative central endothelial cell densities and pachymetry.
Methods: :
Retrospective, non-comparative interventional case series. Participants include 32 eyes of 31 patients with corneal edema from psedudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK), Fuchs endothelial dystrophy, or previous failed penetrating keratoplasty. All patients underwent DSAEK at Long Island Jewish Hospital, New Hyde Park, New York by a single surgeon using similar technique in all patients. The ECD were taken at various time points up to 18 months after the surgery and then compared with preoperative donor cornea eye bank measurements.
Results: :
Preoperatively the average endothelial cell cont was 2900 + 360. At 6 months, the average endothelial cell count was 1900 + 590 (35% decrease). At 12 months, the average endothelial cell count was 1900 + 670 (36% decrease from preoperatively), and at 18 months, the average endothelial cell count was 1900 + 620 (36% decrease from preoperatively). Postoperatively the average pachymety was 629 + 96 at 6 months. At 12 months the pachymetery was 616 + 376 (2% decline from 6 months postop). At 18 months the pachymetery was 609 + 54 (3% decline from 6 months postop). At 24 months the pachymetery was 576 + 51 (8% decline from 6 months postop).
Keywords: cornea: endothelium • cornea: clinical science