Graft insertion device safe for use during DSAEK

Am J Ophthalmol. 2011;151(3):223-232.

A graft insertion device did not lead to graft dislocation or failure and did not require a long learning curve for physicians, a study found.

The prospective interventional case series included 25 eyes of 25 Asian patients who underwent graft insertion with the EndoGlide (Angiotech) during Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty.

Mean preoperative donor endothelial cell density was 2,957 ± 242 cells/mm² and the median graft diameter was 8.75 mm.

After surgery, mean endothelial cell density was 2,586 ± 338 cells/mm² at 6 months and 2,575 ± 289 cells/mm² at 12 months, which is consistent with other published reports of stabilization during this time period, the study said.

Mean cell loss was 13.1% at 6 months, which could be the lowest 6-month cell loss in published literature, the authors said. Mean cell loss was 15.6% at 12 months.

"Low endothelial cell loss with the EndoGlide may in part be attributable to reduced cell damage during insertion, but may also be attributable to the relatively large grafts possible with this device," the authors said.

Results showed no postoperative graft dislocation or primary iatrogenic graft failure.