Seven‐day storage of pneumatically dissected Descemet's endothelial grafts with and without Dua's layer

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford, England) England), 2016-03, Vol.94 (2), p.e130-e134
• Main Authors: GamalElDin, Sherif A., Salama, Marwa M., ElShazly, Malak I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; big bubble; Cell Count; Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss - pathology; Corneal Transplantation; Descemet Membrane; Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty; Descemet's membrane endothelial grafts; Dissection - methods; Dua's layer; endothelial cell loss; Endothelium, Corneal; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Organ Preservation - methods; Time Factors; Tissue and Organ Harvesting - methods; Tissue Donors
• ISSN: 1755-375X; 1755-3768
• DOI: 10.1111/aos.12823

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of big‐bubble (BB) technique in separating Dua's layer together with the Descemet's membrane endothelial (DE) graft and the effect of 7‐day storage of the prepared tissues on the endothelial cells. Method This is an experimental study in which 21 human corneo‐scleral tissues unsuitable for transplantation were used. Grafts were mounted on artificial chamber; epithelial side‐up with BB technique was used to detach the DE graft. The resultant tissues were stored in tissue culture medium for 7 days. Dua's layer presence, endothelial cell density (ECD), endothelial cell loss and viability were assessed after the dissection and at 7 days after storage. Results Complete detachment of DE grafts was achieved in 20 cases (95.24%). Histological analysis revealed Dua's layer presence in 14 cases (70%). The mean ECD for the corneas before dissection was 2375 ± 338 cells/mm2 with significant reduction to 2200 ± 319 cells/mm2 (p