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.
Spelsberg
H
H
LIONS Cornea Bank NRW and Eye Hospital, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany. spelsber@uni-duesseldorf.de
Reinhard
T
T
Sengler
U
U
Daeubener
W
W
Sundmacher
R
R
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