Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) is rapidly becoming the preferred treatment for corneal endothelial dysfunction. Familiarity with recent advances in techniques and instrumentation can help reduce the initially steep learning curve and incidence of complications. RECENT FINDINGS: DSEK produces excellent visual outcomes with minimal change in corneal surface topography or refraction. It can successfully treat corneal dysfunction associated with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy, bullous keratopathy, iridocorneal endothelial syndrome or a failed penetrating graft. Donor dissection has become automated, and new techniques have been devised to facilitate graft insertion and unfolding. Some surgeons now routinely perform DSEK with topical anesthesia. Graft detachment is the most frequent early postoperative complication, but new methods can help promote donor adherence. The incidence of graft-rejection episodes is lower after DSEK compared with standard penetrating keratoplasty, possibly because wound healing is a lesser concern, and many DSEK patients are maintained on low-dose topical steroids indefinitely. Early efforts to transplant just the endothelial cell layer show promise. SUMMARY: DSEK provides quicker visual rehabilitation and an improved safety profile compared with standard penetrating keratoplasty. Continued evolution of this relatively new technique is helping to reduce complications and further improve outcomes.     

Femtosecond-laser-assisted Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty

To our knowledge, we describe the first patient with pseudophakic bullous keratoplasty treated with femtosecond-laser-assisted endothelial keratoplasty. A 5.5 mm corneoscleral tunnel incision was made; after Descemet's membrane was stripped, an 8.0 mm posterior lamellar corneal disk prepared with a femtosecond laser was inserted into the anterior chamber against the recipient cornea without the use of corneal sutures. Four months postoperatively, the posterior corneal disk was clear and the induced astigmatism was 2.1 diopters, demonstrating a functional corneal endothelial layer. The femtosecond laser offers a new surgical approach for minimally invasive endothelial keratoplasty in corneal endothelial disorders.     

Descemet's stripping with endothelial keratoplasty in iridocorneal endothelial syndrome.

An interventional case is described to report on the clinical outcome of Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty performed for iridocorneal endothelial syndrome. A Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty was performed in the eye of a 53-year-old woman with decompensated cornea secondary to iridocorneal endothelial syndrome. The transplant and the angle were evaluated with optical coherence tomography. Within 10 months postoperatively, the graft was clear and best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/400 to 20/30. Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty appears to be an effective measure to treat corneal decompensation, improve vision, and facilitate the examination of the optic disc and retina in patients with iridocorneal endothelial syndrome.     

Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty under topical anesthesia

We describe a technique for performing Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty under topical anesthesia and report the results in 7 patients. No patient reported intraoperative discomfort, and no operative complications were noted. Using a topical anesthetic approach in appropriate patients eliminates the risks associated with retrobulbar and peribulbar blocks.     

Slit-lamp technique of draining interface fluid following Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty

AIM: To describe a new slit-lamp technique for draining interface fluid to manage complete donor disc detachments following Descemet's stripping (automated) endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK/DSAEK). METHODS: Interventional case series. Five DSEK/DSAEK patients presented on the first postoperative day with complete detachment of the donor lenticule. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy showed interface fluid preventing attachment of the donor disc to the host stromal bed. A new slit-lamp technique is described to drain the interface fluid. This technique involved completely filling the anterior chamber with an air bubble using a 30-gauge needle on a 3 ml syringe. Following this, a 0.12 forceps was used to open the inferior mid-peripheral corneal drainage slit to drain the interface fluid. RESULTS: This technique was successful in draining the interface fluid in all five patients, leading to immediate complete reattachment of the donor disc. CONCLUSION: Donor disc detachments following DSEK/DSAEK can be successfully managed by this slit-lamp technique of draining the interface fluid.     

Clinical results of triple Descemet's stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK)

PurposeTo evaluate visual acuity (VA), refractive outcome, endothelial cell loss rate and complications of Descemet's stripping and automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) combined with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in patients with coexisting corneal endothelial dysfunction and cataracts.MethodsSeventeen patients underwent phacoemulsification and posterior chamber IOL implantationthrough temporal corneal incision, followed by DSAEK. The selection of IOL power was predicted by preoperative lens power calculations of fellow eye plus 0.5 to 1.0 diopters (D).ResultsThere were five cases of laser iridotomy induced corneal dysfunction, four cases of Fuch's dystrophy, three cases of cytomegalovirus (CMV) endotheliitis, three cases of iridocorneal endothelial (ICE) syndrome, one case of herpes simplex virus (HSV) endotheliitis, and one case with an unknown cause. The BSCVAs were all under 0.2 preoperatively, and the average BSCVA was 0.3 postoperatively. The postoperative spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error was ?0.11 D on an average. The endothelial cell loss rate was ?36.86% at 6 months and ?38.60% at 12 months. There was one case of graft rejection at 6 months, and one case of primary graft failure. Complications such as donor detachment, pupillary block, donor graft folds, epithelial ingrowth, or interface scar did not occur.ConclusionThis case series of DSAEK combined with phacoemulsification and IOL implantation suggests that the procedure provides rapid visual rehabilitation and allows the selection of an appropriate IOL.     

角膜内皮移植手术并发症分析

角膜内皮移植术（EK）具有损伤小、视力恢复快的优点,已经成为治疗角膜内皮病变的首选术式。然而EK也有其相关的并发症,这些并发症的发生与手术操作、技术熟练程度和处理方式有着密切的关系。EK术后最常见的并发症是植片脱位,尤其在晶状体虹膜隔异常的患者中发生率更高;角膜内皮损伤是此术式的另一并发症,严重者可导致原发性植片内皮功能失代偿;虽然发生率低于穿透角膜移植术,但EK术后若发生排斥反应,其临床表现则有别于其他角膜移植手术。全面了解EK的相关并发症对于认识和了解这种全新的术式十分重要。     

小切口下角膜后弹力层剥除联合深板层内皮移植术的实验研究

目的 探讨小切口下角膜后弹力层剥除联合深板层内皮移植术(DSEK)的手术方法、疗效、并发症、内皮细胞的评价及组织学检查.方法 为实验研究.将24只新西兰大白兔随机分为3组,每组8只兔(8只眼),供体为新西兰大白兔16只眼.A组于角膜缘处行5 mm长隧道切口,剥去角膜中央直径10 mm的后弹力层,将等大的带有少量基质的后弹力层内皮细胞膜片植入受体眼;B组行单纯角膜后弹力层环形撕除术;C组在角膜后弹力层剥除后行去内皮细胞的带少许角膜基质和后弹力层膜片植入.术后观察1个月,比较3组兔角膜的透明性、植片贴附情况、角膜内皮细胞密度及并发症情况.结果 A组8只眼术前角膜内皮细胞密度平均值为(2728±108)个/mm2,术后角膜均恢复透明,内皮细胞密度平均为(2195±77)个/mm2,差异有统计学意义(t=12.455,P＜0.001);组织切片证实角膜内皮细胞植片与受体植床愈合良好,层间无瘢痕形成.B组8只眼术后均有严重的角膜水肿,持续1个月未恢复,组织学检查术后28 d时仅在后弹力层剥除的交界处有极少数的内皮细胞长入.C组8只眼术后1周内角膜植片均水肿,5只眼植片脱位;术后至观察1个月,角膜中央水肿仍较明显,伴有角膜新生血管长入,组织学检查植片部位未见内皮细胞长入.结论 角膜后弹力层剥除联合深板层内皮移植术具有安全、损伤小、术后恢复快及无层间瘢痕的优点,是治疗大泡性角膜疾病的优选术式.     

Presumed herpes simplex virus endotheliitis following ultra-thin Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty

A 78-year-old male underwent ultra.thin DSAEK for PBK (OS) and achieved BCVA 6/12 at 9 months. The patient developed allograft rejection 10 months postoperatively and was treated with IV methyl prednisolone, systemic, and topical steroids. The patient then improved and achieved 6/18 BCVA at 8 weeks. Topical prednisolone 1% twice daily was continued. Six weeks later, the patient developed fever and diminished vision and had high IOP, corneal edema, and keratic precipitates on endothelium. Considering it to as second episode of graft rejection, IV methyl prednisolone and topical steroids were given. Seeing no response, presumed HSV endotheliitis was considered as diagnosis and treated with steroids, oral acyclovir. The patient improved and achieved BCVA 6/24 with no subsequent recurrence during 11 months follow-up.     

Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty in intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome: suture-drag technique

Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty avoids a full-thickness corneal procedure and provides rapid visual rehabilitation. Success depends on positioning the graft successfully while minimizing intraoperative donor endothelial trauma. Previously described techniques for graft insertion may be problematic in patients with intraoperative floppy-iris syndrome, anatomically shallow or unstable anterior chambers, or increased intraoperative posterior vitreous pressure. We describe an alternative called the suture-drag technique that may facilitate lamellar endothelial graft insertion in these special circumstances.     

Descemet's stripping with automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK)

BACKGROUND: Although penetrating keratoplasty remains the gold standard for surgically treating corneal endothelial pathologies, tremendous progress has been made in recent years to improve the technology of (posterior) lamellar keratoplasty. METHODS: Literature review from PubMed and own data. RESULTS: Posterior lamellar keratoplasty using a microkeratome (Descemet's stripping with automated endothelial keratoplasty, or DSAEK) is a reliable surgical technique for Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy. Visual rehabilitation is faster with lamellar keratoplasty than penetrating keratoplasty. CONCLUSION: Posterior lamellar keratoplasty techniques such as DSAEK will become an important surgical treatment option for corneal endothelial pathologies.     

角膜后弹力层剥除自动角膜刀取材内皮移植手术的方法和体会

角膜后弹力层剥除自动角膜刀取材内皮移植术(DSAEK)已经成为替代穿透性角膜移植治疗角膜内皮病变的首选术式,其优点为仅去除病变的角膜内皮和后弹力层,最大限度地保持角膜的完整性,避免眼表面的损伤和明显的屈光变化.手术方法为在角膜缘部制备5 mm的隧道切口,用后弹力膜剥离钩划开并剥除病变的角膜后弹力层和内皮层,同时移植带有部分角膜后基质的后弹力层和内皮层,经前房注气展开并顶起植片使之与植床贴附,无缝线,避免了角膜散光.手术中及术后重要的环节和经验是:亚洲人的前房较浅,在植片植入和展开的环节会有一些问题,因此术前要充分降低眼压,防止术中晶状体虹膜隔的前移,使前房内有较充足的空间植入植片;手术后植片脱位是DSAEK的最大并发症,往往也是导致手术失败的主要原因,避免的方法为术中尽量减少黏弹剂的应用,在植片植入前将前房内的黏弹剂彻底冲洗干净,在植片与植床贴附后要尽量排除二者之间的液体,增加二者的贴附力.晶状体虹膜隔的完整性与气泡能否在前房内持续保持有密切的关系,如果晶状体虹膜隔不完整,气泡容易进入玻璃体腔,无法顶住植片,容易导致植片的脱位,因此早期在手术适应证的选择上要注意这些方面的问题.