title: Changes in Technique and Indications for Keratoplasty in Poland, 1989 to 2014: An Analysis of Corneal Transplantations Performed at Saint Barbara Hospital, Trauma Center, Sosnowiec, Poland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this work was to study the evolving trends in techniques and indications for corneal transplantation in Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective, descriptive analysis of corneal transplantations was performed at the Ophthalmology Department of Saint Barbara Hospital, Trauma Center, Sosnowiec, Poland, between 1988 and 2014. Structure of indications and surgery type rates over 26 years were tabulated by means of 5-year intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1989 and 2014, 1762 corneal transplantations were performed, including 1375 (78%) cases of penetrating keratoplasty, 137 (8%) lamellar keratoplasty, 112 (6%) patch grafts, and 138 (8%) keratolimbal allografts. The major indications and their respective overall percentage were corneal leucoma (24%), pseudophakic/aphakic bullous keratopathy (22%), Fuchs dystrophy (13%), keratoconus (13%), re-graft (11%), keratitis (9%), and limbal stem cell deficiency (8%), with changes in relative frequency of the leading indications over the following time intervals. The number of corneal transplantations gradually increased during the years reviewed. The rates of lamellar, keratolimbal, and patch grafts have grown dynamically since 2010, reaching 20%, 17%, and 12%, respectively, of procedures performed during 2010 to 2014.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over the past quarter of a century, there has been evolution in corneal transplantation service, from the first penetrating keratoplasty to the wide spectrum of procedures, including femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty. Although, since 2010, the rates of lamellar and keratolimbal allografts have grown rapidly, penetrating keratoplasty has remained the leading technique.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Saint Barbara Hospital, Trauma Center, Sosnowiec, Poland; Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Railway Hospital, Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: jankowskajudyta@wp.pl.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Jankowska-Szmul
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Saint Barbara Hospital, Trauma Center, Sosnowiec, Poland; Eye Tissue Bank, Saint Barbara Hospital, Trauma Center, Sosnowiec, Poland; Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Railway Hospital, Katowice, Poland.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Dobrowolski
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Saint Barbara Hospital, Trauma Center, Sosnowiec, Poland.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Krysik
authors: Eye Tissue Bank, Saint Barbara Hospital, Trauma Center, Sosnowiec, Poland.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Kwas
authors: Eye Tissue Bank, Saint Barbara Hospital, Trauma Center, Sosnowiec, Poland.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Nejman
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Saint Barbara Hospital, Trauma Center, Sosnowiec, Poland; Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Railway Hospital, Katowice, Poland.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Wylegala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers