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Comparison of clinical outcomes after precut DMEK with or without dextran-containing medium compared to standard DMEK: a prospective pilot study

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the clinical outcome and complication rate of precut Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in two different culture conditions, dextran-containing and dextran-free medium, and compare the results with the current standard DMEK procedure.

Methods

A prospective study of 32 eyes suffering from Fuchs endothelial dystrophy were scheduled for DMEK with a follow-up of one year. The eyes were divided into four subgroups. Group + D (n = 7) received a precut DMEK stored in dextran-containing transport medium, and Group − D (n = 9) received a precut DMEK without dextran-containing medium. The respective fellow eyes received a standard DMEK (S) (preparation directly prior to surgery) stored in dextran-containing medium (S-D + ; n = 7) or without (S-D−; n = 9).

Results

Clinical outcome (visual acuity, endothelial cell count, central corneal thickness) and rebubbling rate were comparable for all four groups. None of the patients had a graft failure.

Conclusion

The preliminary data of the pilot study show that precut liquid-bubble DMEK leads to comparable clinical results regardless of dextran-containing or dextran-free organ culture medium and is further comparable to the standard DMEK procedure.

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All data are within the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eye Clinic Sulzbach, Knappschaft Hospital Saar, An der Klinik 10, 66280, Sulzbach, Germany

    Annekatrin Rickmann, Karl Boden, Silke Wahl, Andre Trouvain, Andre Schulz & Peter Szurman

  2. Klaus Heimann Eye Research Institute (KHERI), Knappschaft Hospital Saar, Sulzbach, Germany

    Andre Schulz & Peter Szurman

Authors
  1. Annekatrin Rickmann
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  2. Karl Boden
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  3. Silke Wahl
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  4. Andre Trouvain
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  5. Andre Schulz
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  6. Peter Szurman
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Contributions

PS, AR, and SW were involved in the conceptualisation and methodology; PS, AR, and AT contributed to the formal analysis and investigation; AR was involved in the writing—original draft preparation; PS, AR, KB, SW, AS, and AT were involved in the writing—review and editing. All authors have approved the submitted version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annekatrin Rickmann.

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Conflict of interest

Prof. Peter Szurman has a patent for a Device for preparing and introducing a transplant or an implant into a living body, in particular for ophthalmological interventions: EP2533724 B1; WO2012065602 A3. All other authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organisation or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Association of Saarland (Ärztekammer Saarland, 254/16) and adheres to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Rickmann, A., Boden, K., Wahl, S. et al. Comparison of clinical outcomes after precut DMEK with or without dextran-containing medium compared to standard DMEK: a prospective pilot study. Int Ophthalmol 42, 401–409 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-021-02056-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-021-02056-w

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