●AIM:To describe a modified technique of donor lenticule dissection for thin manual Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty(TM-DSEK).●METHODS:Donor material was soaked in balanced salt solution(BSS)for 30 min,be...●AIM:To describe a modified technique of donor lenticule dissection for thin manual Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty(TM-DSEK).●METHODS:Donor material was soaked in balanced salt solution(BSS)for 30 min,before being mounted on an artificial anterior chamber(AAC).Rather than BSS,the AAC was filled with filtered air,resulting in a visible reflection at the corneal endothelium-air interface.This reflection served as a landmark for the depth of the dissection,facilitating the creation of a thin lenticule with low risk of perforation.Dissection was commenced at a standardized depth of 500 microns,with no initial pachymetry necessary.Totally 29 donor corneas were dissected by a novice TM-DSEK surgeon.Dissection time,central graft thickness at 2 mo and complications were analysed.●RESULTS:Results were similar to other endothelial keratoplasty techniques,despite the cases being performed by a novice DSEK surgeon.Mean dissection time was 7 min(range 6-10).One graft perforation occurred(3.45%),but the air tamponaded the break and enabled dissection to be restarted and completed from a different location.Mean central graft thickness after at least two months follow-up was 106 microns(range 25-170).●CONCLUSION:A problem with manual DSEK is the risk of graft perforation by attempting to dissect too thin a lenticule,or creating a thick graft due to fear of perforating.This modified air-guided technique addresses this problem,and is recommended for surgeons either embarking on the learning curve,or who wish to achieve more consistently thin grafts while reducing perforation rates.展开更多
文摘●AIM:To describe a modified technique of donor lenticule dissection for thin manual Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty(TM-DSEK).●METHODS:Donor material was soaked in balanced salt solution(BSS)for 30 min,before being mounted on an artificial anterior chamber(AAC).Rather than BSS,the AAC was filled with filtered air,resulting in a visible reflection at the corneal endothelium-air interface.This reflection served as a landmark for the depth of the dissection,facilitating the creation of a thin lenticule with low risk of perforation.Dissection was commenced at a standardized depth of 500 microns,with no initial pachymetry necessary.Totally 29 donor corneas were dissected by a novice TM-DSEK surgeon.Dissection time,central graft thickness at 2 mo and complications were analysed.●RESULTS:Results were similar to other endothelial keratoplasty techniques,despite the cases being performed by a novice DSEK surgeon.Mean dissection time was 7 min(range 6-10).One graft perforation occurred(3.45%),but the air tamponaded the break and enabled dissection to be restarted and completed from a different location.Mean central graft thickness after at least two months follow-up was 106 microns(range 25-170).●CONCLUSION:A problem with manual DSEK is the risk of graft perforation by attempting to dissect too thin a lenticule,or creating a thick graft due to fear of perforating.This modified air-guided technique addresses this problem,and is recommended for surgeons either embarking on the learning curve,or who wish to achieve more consistently thin grafts while reducing perforation rates.
