European registry for quality improvement in corneal transplantation surgery

Abstract

Purpose : The European Cornea and Cell Transplantation Registry (ECCTR) is a multi-national database for corneal transplantation (CT) surgery. ECCTR is co-funded by the Health Programme of the European Union and the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS). The consortium consists of the ESCRS, EuCornea, Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, European Eye Bank Association, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), Blekinge Läns Landsting Karlskrona, Dutch Transplant Foundation (NTS), Swedish Corneal Transplant Registry, and Maastricht University. Objectives of the database are to ascertain donor tissue availability, and to analyse the safety, quality, and efficacy of corneal therapies based on real-world outcomes including patient reported outcome measures.

Methods : We describe the set-up of a web-based system with a software interface for the input and output of data relating to corneal transplantation surgery. Output of reports or export of own data is available on the web. Data is anonymous to all users, with the exception that reporting surgeons have access to their own data. The system does not include any patient identification. A unique patient-reported outcome extension is linked to the system.

Results : The system was designed to allow both manual input of data via the web and transfer of data from national registries and large electronic medical record systems. Interfaces have so far been created for direct transfer of data from three existing national quality systems: The United Kingdom NHSBT transplant registry (UKTR), the Netherlands Organ Transplantation Registry (NOTR) and the Swedish Corneal Transplant Registry.

Conclusions : A European quality registry has been set-up for corneal transplant surgery. It incorporates one of the largest web-based databases in the field. ECCTR offers surgeons a tool for quality improvement by comparison and benchmarking with state-of-the-art epidemiological data.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.