Increased endothelial cell loss after transplantation of corneas preserved by a modified organ-culture technique.

Abstract

Forty-seven donor corneas were preserved in McCarey-Kaufman (M-K) medium at 4 degrees C for 1 day, then in organ culture at 34 degrees C for approximately 1 month, then in M-K medium at 4 degrees C for an additional two days before transplantation. The central donor endothelium was examined by specular microscopy before and after organ culture and 2 months after keratoplasty. No significant change in central endothelial cell density occurred during organ culture. The 47 transplants were compared with 47 grafts preserved only in M-K medium at 4 degrees C for approximately 36 hours. All transplants were performed by the same surgeon over the same period, and the two groups contained similar types of surgical procedures. The organ-cultured grafts were thicker on the first post-operative day and took longer to epithelialize . Two months after keratoplasty all of the 94 grafts were clear and thin, but the mean central endothelial cell loss was 28% in the 47 organ-cultured transplants and 10% in the 47 transplants preserved only in M-K medium (P less than 0.0001). These results indicate that the endothelium of corneas preserved by organ culture at 34 degrees C and then placed in M-K medium at 4 degrees C for 2 days may be more susceptible to surgical trauma than those preserved only in M-K medium at 4 degrees C.

• Authors: W M Bourne, D J Doughman, R L Lindstrom, M J Kolb, E Mindrup, D Skelnik
• Journal: Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology) Vol. 91 Issue 3 Pg. 285-9 (Mar 1984) ISSN: 0161-6420 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6371648 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Cell Count
• Child
• Cornea (cytology)
• Corneal Transplantation
• Endothelium (cytology)
• Humans
• Microscopy
• Organ Culture Techniques (methods)
• Photography
• Postoperative Care
• Time Factors