One-year outcome after Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) comparing sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) 20% versus 100% air for anterior chamber tamponade.
To investigate 1-year clinical outcome and complication rates following Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) with sulfur hexafluoride 20% (SF620%) anterior chamber tamponade compared with conventionally used 100% air for primary graft attachment during DMEK surgery.



Records of 1112 consecutive DMEKs were reviewed retrospectively and grouped by anterior chamber tamponade used during DMEK surgery (SF620% vs 100% air). Outcome measures included intraocular pressure (IOP), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD) and central corneal thickness (CCT) at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after DMEK surgery. Complication rates were assessed, including intraoperative and postoperative complications, and graft detachment rate requiring rebubbling.



A total of 854 cases were included in this study. In 105 cases (12.3%), DMEK was performed with SF620%, and in 749 cases (87.7%) 100% air was used for anterior chamber tamponade. Outcome results for IOP, BSCVA, ECD and CCT at all follow-up time points were comparable for both anterior chamber tamponade groups without statistical significant differences (p≥0.05), but graft detachment rate requiring rebubbling was significantly lower in the SF620% group (p<0.001).



Whereas SF620% anterior chamber tamponade does not seem to negatively affect the clinical outcome of DMEK surgery within the first postoperative year, use of SF620% significantly reduces the rate of rebubblings.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Friederike
F
Schaub
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Philip
0000-0002-9527-4957
P
Enders
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Katharina
K
Snijders
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Silvia
S
Schrittenlocher
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Sebastian
S
Siebelmann
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Ludwig M
LM
Heindl
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Björn O
BO
Bachmann
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Claus
C
Cursiefen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000867:Anterior Chamber; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055954:Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry; D057111:Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D058450:Endotamponade / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult
D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
Cornea; Dystrophy