title: The role of postoperative positioning after DSAEK in preventing graft dislocation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the importance of immediate postoperative supine patient positioning after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty eyes from 40 patients who underwent DSAEK were randomized into two groups: 20 patients sat in a chair for 2 hr postoperatively (group 1), and 20 patients were placed in a supine position (group 2) for the same time interval. At the end of surgery, the anterior chamber was fully filled with air, aiming at an intraocular pressure (IOP) of approximately 20 mmHg. The dislocation rate in the two groups was registered. IOP was measured 2 hr postoperatively and compared with endothelial cell loss at 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference in the dislocation rate between the two groups (p = 0.548): two patients (10%) in group 1 and one patient (5%) in group 2. Endothelial cell loss at 6 months was 29.6% and 29.7% in group 1 and 2, respectively. There was no correlation between the IOP 2 hr after surgery and endothelial cell loss at 6 months (p = 0.741).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supine positioning does not seem to be of crucial importance in avoiding graft dislocation in DSAEK when the anterior chamber is fully filled with air for 2 hr postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saethre
authors.forename: Liv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Drolsum
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D055954:Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss / Q000473:pathology; D057111:Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology; D005125:Eye Banks; D005260:Female; D005642:Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy / Q000601:surgery*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016683:Supine Position; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology