[Complications in endothelial keratoplasty performed by cornea fellows].
OBJECTIVE
To report early complications in endothelial keratoplasty performed by cornea fellows.


METHODS
Retrospective study of endothelial keratoplasty performed by second-year cornea fellows. Described the early complications and its treatments.


RESULTS
Thirty four endothelial keratoplasty were performed by cornea fellows, from July 2007 to August 2008. From this, 29 were Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty and 5 Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty; 14 combined with phacoemulsification and 1 with extracapsular cataract surgery. The main indication was Fuchs' dystrophy (18 cases), followed by bullous keratopathy (11 cases), primary failure after endothelial keratoplasty (4 cases) and congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (1 case). Main surgery complication was donor button detachment in 8 eyes (23.5%), followed by primary graft failure in 7 eyes (20.6%) and acute glaucoma after pupillary block in 1 eye (2.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
The complication rate in this series, which were the first ever in a group of six cornea fellows, was high. This shows the steep learning curve for this surgical procedure. The assistance of an experienced surgeon could help to achieve a less steep learning curve with a lower complication rate.
Nicolas Cesário
NC
Pereira
Mônica
M
Araújo
Natércia Trindade
NT
Pinto
Pedro Bertino
PB
Moreira
Guilherme Andrade do Nascimento
GA
Rocha
Gustavo Souza
GS
Moura
Luciene Barbosa de
LB
Sousa
D057111:Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000601:surgery*; D005642:Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy / Q000209:etiology*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D059032:Learning Curve; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000379:methods; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011681:Pupil Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies