title: Results of penetrating keratoplasty triple procedure with 25-gauge core vitrectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report and compare the outcomes of penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) triple procedures [combined PKP, cataract extraction, and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation] with a 25-gauge (G) system, 20-G system, and without core vitrectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects comprised the following 3 groups: the 25-G group including 12 eyes of 12 patients (4 men and 8 women) that underwent PKP with 25-G core vitrectomy, the 20-G group including 9 eyes of 9 patients (3 men and 6 women) that underwent PKP with 20-G core vitrectomy, and the non-core vitrectomy group including 9 eyes of 9 patients (1 man and 8 women) that underwent PKP without core vitrectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 25-G, 20-G, and non-core vitrectomy groups, the success rates of IOL implantation were 91.7% (11 of 12 eyes), 88.9% (8 of 9 eyes), and 66.7% (6 of 9 eyes), respectively; the average operation times were 69 minutes, 82 minutes, and 90 minutes, respectively. The 25-G group showed significantly shorter operation time than the other 2 groups. Although not statistically significant, a higher rate of capsular rupture was seen in the non-core vitrectomy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A PKP triple procedure with the 25-G system can be a safe treatment that offers a better success rate of IOL implantation and a significantly shorter operation time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan. higaki@ganka.med.kindai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higaki
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Chota
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimomura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods*