Penetrating keratoplasty using 37 C organ cultured cornea.
Sixty-three penetrating keratoplasties were performed in 63 patients using donor corneas stored by 37 C organ culture incubation for an average of 13 days (range 2 to 35 days). No grafts failed before four weeks, except one which was stored at 4 C for 48 hours prior to transplantation, indicating that endothelial viability is maintained when proper storage conditions are maintained. Sixteen grafts have failed as a result of factors other than the storage method. This clinical study confirms our previous laboratory conclusions that 37 C OC incubation up to 35 days improves the quality of donor endothelium compared with other methods of storage, and it represents a significant advance in corneal preservation.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001831:Body Temperature; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D004727:Endothelium / Q000502:physiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous