Modification in descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty: "Hitch suture" technique.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a new modification in Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, using a "hitch suture" to unfold the donor lenticule inside the recipient's eye.


METHODS
The technique was used in 2 eyes of 2 patients with bullous keratopathy after complicated cataract surgery. A hitch suture was created in both the donor lenticules before inserting the folded graft in the recipient's anterior chamber. The hitch suture was pulled through a limbal stab incision to unfold the donor lenticule in both cases.


RESULTS
No intraoperative problems were encountered. The grafts were well centered with corneal edema. The central part of the graft cleared over a period of 10 to 14 days.


CONCLUSIONS
The technique of using a hitch suture to unfold the graft eliminates the problems associated with this difficult step of the surgery. The hitch loop can be easily made at the edge of the graft and can be pulled using a Sinskey hook through 1 of the stab incisions. We believe that this simple modification in this surgery would help simplify the learning curve of the procedure and increase its chances of success.
Vajpayee
Rasik B
RB
Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. rasikvajpayee@rediffmail.com
Agarwal
Tushar
T
Jhanji
Vishal
V
Sharma
Namrata
N
D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000601:surgery*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D013536:Suture Techniques