Organ-cultured corneal grafts from septic donors: a retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the quality of corneal grafts from donors, who have died from septic multi-organ failure and who are called septic donors in the following.


METHODS
One hundred and eighty-two corneal grafts from septic donors were stored in organ culture for 10-14 days. Graft evaluation was performed according to the criteria of the European Eye Bank Association. Only donor corneas with cell density values above 2000 cells/mm(2) were transplanted. Ninety-one patients who received these transplanted corneas were examined retrospectively with special emphasis on endophthalmitis, graft failure and incidence of immune reactions.


RESULTS
Ninety-one of 182 donor corneas (50%) from septic donors were discarded mainly due to endothelial damage (61; 67%). Only seven (8%) were discarded due to medium contamination. In contrast, 452 of 1261 donor corneas (36%) from non-septic donors during the same period were discarded, again mainly due to endothelial damage (264; 58%). In this group, 48 donor corneas (11%) were discarded due to medium contamination. No patient who had received a graft from a septic donor has experienced endophthalmitis. The rate of immune reactions and graft failure was in the same range when compared to a larger group who received grafts from non-septic donors.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data reveal no contraindication against the use of corneal grafts derived from septic donors, critical graft assessment in organ culture provided.
LIONS Cornea Bank NRW and Eye Hospital, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany. spelsber@uni-duesseldorf.de
H
H
Spelsberg
T
T
Reinhard
U
U
Sengler
W
W
Daeubener
R
R
Sundmacher
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000075202:Contraindications; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D003470:Culture Media; D004340:Drug Contamination; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000635:transmission*; D014019:Tissue Donors
D003470:Culture Media