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Abstract #47648 Published in IGR 13-4

The intraoperative impression and postoperative outcomes of gamma-irradiated corneas in corneal and glaucoma patch surgery

Daoud YJ; Smith R; Smith T; Akpek EK; Ward DE; Stark WJ
Cornea 2011; 30: 1387-1391


PURPOSE:: To report the short-term outcome of gamma-irradiated sterile cornea in corneal and glaucoma patch graft surgeries when viable endothelium is not necessary. METHODS:: Surgeons who have used the irradiated corneas were asked to rate their impression from 1 (fair) to 4 (very good). Specific intraoperative questions included availability, ease of use, clarity, thickness, tensile strength, and suturing. Postoperative outcomes included epithelialization, biological incorporation, and clarity of tissue, as well as any adverse outcomes. RESULTS:: Irradiated sterile cornea has been used in more than 150 surgeries so far. The major uses for irradiated cornea were as glaucoma patch graft (65.3%), as corneal patch graft (14%), in anterior lamellar keratoplasty (10.7%), and in keratoprosthesis (10%). The mean score for packaging of tissue was 3.75 (SD, 0.45), ease of use 3.83 (SD, 0.39), clarity 3.62 (SD, 0.51), thickness 3.67 (SD, 0.49), tensile strength 3.64 (SD, 0.50), and suturing 3.62 (SD, 0.65). Postoperative outcomes were also favorable, including epithelialization (mean (plus or minus) SD, 3.46 (plus or minus) 0.69), biological incorporation (mean (plus or minus) SD, 3.46 (plus or minus) 0.69), and clarity (mean (plus or minus) SD, 3.43 (plus or minus) 0.85). There were 4 episodes of corneal melt (all occurred in patients with previous corneal melt). There were no reported cases of tissue rejection or infection. CONCLUSIONS:: Gamma-irradiated sterile cornea is a promising new development that may help increase the supply of donor cornea tissue. It virtually eliminates the risk of infection while providing a long shelf life. It is particularly helpful in emergency situations or in remote areas. However, longer follow-up and a prospective study comparing the outcomes of the irradiated corneas with those of the optisol-stored corneas are needed. Copyright (copyright) 2011 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

W.J. Stark. Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N.Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States. Email: wstark1@jhmi.edu


Classification:

12.8.5 Other (Part of: 12 Surgical treatment > 12.8 Filtering surgery)
2.2 Cornea (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)



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