title: A simple ex vivo model for teaching Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a simple ex vivo porcine model for teaching Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty freshly enucleated porcine eyes were used to create a pseudo-graft from the porcine lens capsule and implant it into an intact porcine globe using the standardized 'no-touch' technique of the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery (NIIOS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The DMEK pseudo-graft could be inserted, centred, unfolded and appositioned in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Practicing DMEK surgery under wetlab conditions was feasible by the described simple and low-cost model. This new tool may facilitate the adaptation of DMEK by cornea surgeons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany; First Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of Athens, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; The Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Droutsas
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrak
authors.forename: Gerrit R J
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Melles
authors.forename: Chryssanthi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koutsandrea
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Georgalas
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sekundo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002983:Clinical Competence; D057111:Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty / Q000193:education*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D023421:Models, Animal; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D013552:Swine; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty; endothelial keratoplasty; wetlab model; ‘no touch’ standardized technique