[Current state of mechanical corneal surgery - results of a questionnaire to members of the cornea section of the German Society of Ophthalmologists].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to obtain an overview on the surgical and the perioperative management strategies involved in mechanical corneal surgery in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to 60 ophthalmological hospitals.


RESULTS
Within one year the responding centres (n = 48) performed 3171 penetrating and 166 lamellar keratoplasties, 224 limbal stem cell--and 817 amniotic-membrane transplantations. In high-risk cases, 33 % of the centres did not use HLA-matched grafts. Predominantly manual trephine systems were used. Of the responding institutions 96 % used 10.0 nylon sutures and 64 % used a double running anti-torque technique for normal-risk keratoplasty. In tectonic and high-risk keratoplasties, interrupted sutures were used predominantly (70 % and 56 %). Suture removal was performed between one month (first suture) and up to 36 months (last suture) postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Procedures considered to be standard--such as penetrating keratoplasty--are performed with numerous and significant technical variations. The likely influence of such variations on the long-term outcome should be further evaluated.
Steven
P
P
Augenklinik, UK S-H, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck. psteven@gmx.de
Winter
R
R
Geerling
G
G
D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data