Keywords
cornea - resident - DSAEK
Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) has replaced penetrating
keratoplasty (PKP) as the most common form of corneal transplantation, particularly
in cases of corneal endothelial dysfunction.[1]
[2]
[3] The benefits of DSAEK over PKP include increased speed of visual recovery and decreased
graft rejection rate and surgical morbidity.[1]
[2]
[3]
[4] The two major disease processes requiring DSAEK are Fuchs corneal dystrophy and
iatrogenic damage. Iatrogenic damage, also known as pseudophakic bullous keratopathy
(PBK), most commonly results from cataract surgery. Endothelial dysfunction can also
occur from implant-induced damage—including glaucoma tubes shunts and anterior chamber
intraocular lenses (ACIOL).[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
While DSAEK has benefits to the patient, surgeon transition from PKP to DSAEK technique
has proven to be technically difficult with a steep learning curve.[5]
[6]
[7] Many studies have shown a large improvement in surgical outcomes with an increase
in the number of procedures a surgeon has performed, with an improvement even after
the first five cases.[8] Due to the steep learning curve, residents are normally not the primary surgeons
for DSAEK, as they will not obtain a satisfactory number of procedures to become proficient
during residency. However, the complications of DSAEK surgery when performed by residents
as primary surgeons have not been evaluated.
In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of DSAEK corneal transplants
completed by residents as primary surgeons at the Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital staffed
by a fellowship-trained corneal specialist.
Methods
This retrospective chart review was conducted at the Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital of
the Harris Health System, Houston, Texas, United States. Institutional review board
approval was obtained from the University of Texas Health Science Center Committee
for the Protection of Human Subjects and the Harris Health System. All research adhered
to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki and was HIPAA compliant.
Charts of all patients who underwent DSAEK for endothelial dysfunction performed by
resident surgeons and staffed by a fellowship-trained cornea specialist from January
2013 to September 2016 were reviewed. Patients with less than 1 month of follow-up
were excluded. Demographics (race, sex, age) and ocular surgical history were recorded.
Preoperative data collected were best-corrected or pinhole distance visual acuity
(VA) and indications for DSAEK (PBK, Fuchs endothelial dystrophy [Fuchs], or other
corneal endothelial pathology [others]). Intraoperative data collected were concurrent
procedures performed, surgical parameters, and intraoperative complications. Postoperative
data collected were presence of graft detachment at week 1; graft failure (as determined
by slit lamp examination by a cornea specialist) at week 1, month 1, month 3, and
at last follow-up; and VA at last follow-up.
Surgical Technique
Surgeries were conducted under monitored anesthesia care with a retrobulbar block
or general anesthesia based on participants' health and planned concurrent surgeries.
All concurrent surgical procedures (phacoemulsification with intraocular lens [IOL]
placement, removal or revision of anterior chamber tube shunt [ACTS], etc.) were performed
just prior to DSAEK. All donor corneas were from the Lions Eye Bank at Baylor College
of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States. All had endothelial cell counts greater
than 2,300 cells/mm2.
Superior, inferior, and nasal 1.0-mm paracenteses were made at the corneal limbus.
The eye was filled with a cohesive viscoelastic, and the potential cornea donor size
was determined using calipers. Depending on the measurement, a trephine of appropriate
size—ranging from 6.5 to 9.0 mm—was determined by the attending surgeon and was used
to mark the graft on the cornea. A clear corneal incision was made temporally in a
triplanar fashion with a keratome to a width of 3.5 to 4.5 mm, except in cases that
involved removal of an ACIOL, where a 6.5-mm superior scleral tunnel was made. For
the Fuchs dystrophy participants, Descemet's membrane was removed using a reverse
Sinskey hook. Earlier cases had 4 1.0-mm venting incisions placed tangential and slightly
central to the trephination marks on the host cornea. Viscoelastic was removed with
bimanual irrigation and aspiration. For the PBK patients and patients with previous
incisional glaucoma surgery, the eye was not inflated with viscoelastic, and the Descemet's
membrane was not stripped.
All corneal tissue was pre-cut by the eye bank, and a donor punch was used to cut
the corneal graft after the anterior stroma was removed. A 20-gauge Lewicky anterior
chamber maintainer was placed in the inferior paracentesis. The graft was transferred
endothelial side up into a Busin glide and advanced forward using 25-gauge internal
limiting membrane (ILM) forceps. There was no viscoelastic placed on the DSAEK graft.
The 25-gauge ILM forceps were then placed through the nasal paracentesis, out the
main temporal wound, and used to pull the DSAEK lenticule into the anterior chamber
endothelial side down. The Lewicky anterior chamber maintainer was then removed, and
the temporal wound was closed with 10–0 nylon sutures in an interrupted fashion. The
entire anterior chamber was filled with filtered air, and the lenticule was inspected
for centration and repositioned externally with a flap roller or, if necessary, internally
with a reverse Sinskey hook.
An antibiotic/steroid ointment was applied to the ocular surface, and a patch and
shield were placed over the operative eye. All participants remained in the postanesthesia
care unit for 1 hour in a face-up position after surgery. All participants who did
not have prior glaucoma surgery were taken to the slit lamp to remove 50% of the air
bubble prior to discharge home to prevent pupillary block. If a participant had a
prior incisional glaucoma surgery, the participant was sent home after spending 1
hour in a face-up position without any removal of the air bubble. All participants
were instructed to remain in a face-up position at home for 3 days after the procedure.
Outcome Measures
The primary outcome was surgical failure and defined as the presence of graft detachment
at postoperative week 1 or graft failure at or before postoperative month 3. Graft
detachment was defined as less than 90% adherence between the donor graft and the
host posterior corneal stroma or any lenticule that required secondary surgical intervention
(rebubbling or regraft).[9] Primary graft failure was defined by any corneal edema over the graft by slit lamp
examination.[10] Secondary outcomes were intraoperative complications and change in VA from baseline
to last follow-up.
Data Analysis
Data were summarized by mean ( ± standard deviation) or by frequency (%). All statistical
analyses were performed using SAS v9.4 for Windows (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, North
Carolina, United States).
Results
Demographics and Baseline Ocular Characteristics
Twenty eyes of 19 patients who underwent DSAEK during the study period were reviewed.
Two eyes were excluded due to less than 1 month of follow-up. Eighteen eyes of 18
participants were included. The mean age was 60.9 ± 13.2 years. Seven (39%) participants
were male. Nine (50%) participants were Hispanic, four (22%) were white, three (17%)
were black, and two (11%) were Asian. Indications for DSAEK included 10 (56%) PBK,
4 (22%) Fuchs, and 4 (22%) others. Others included herpetic endothelial dysfunction,
iridocorneal endothelial syndrome (ICE), and implant-induced endothelial failure from
ACTS. Eleven (61%) study eyes had complex ocular surgical histories with at least
one previous ocular surgery (excluding uneventful phacoemulsification with IOL placement).
Of these 11 eyes, 7 eyes had prior glaucoma surgery. Demographics and baseline ocular
characteristics are summarized in [Table 1].
Table 1
Summary of demographics and baseline ocular characteristics
|
Variable
|
All eyes
(N = 18)
|
|
Eye (right, %)
|
12 (67%)
|
|
Age (y, ± SD, [range])
|
60.9 (±13.2)
[23–80]
|
|
Sex (males, %)
|
7 (39%)
|
|
Race (%)
|
|
White
|
4 (22%)
|
|
Black
|
3 (17%)
|
|
Hispanic
|
9 (50%)
|
|
Asian
|
2 (11%)
|
|
Indication for DSAEK (%)
|
|
Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy
|
10 (56%)
|
|
Fuchs endothelial dystrophy
|
4 (22%)
|
|
Others
|
4 (22%)
|
|
Previous complex ocular surgery[a] (n, %)
|
11 (61%)
|
|
Previous glaucoma surgery (n, %)
|
7 (39%)
|
|
Baseline visual acuity (logMAR, ± SD, [range])
|
1.33 (±0.84)
[0.1–2.7]
|
|
Duration of follow-up period (mo, ± SD, [range])
|
14.9 (±12.9)
[1.7–43.2]
|
Abbreviations: DSAEK, Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty; SD,
standard deviation.
a Excludes uneventful phacoemulsification with intraocular lens.
Surgical Procedures
Surgeries were performed by 10 PGY-4 residents. Each resident performed an average
of two DSAEKs (range: 1–3). Nine eyes had DSAEK alone, and the remaining 9 eyes had
DSAEK with another procedure. Descemet's membrane was not stripped for all PBK patients,
except for two early cases, and for two patients with previous incisional glaucoma
surgery. Venting incisions were done in five PBK patients and one patient with previous
incisional glaucoma surgery. Overall, 10 eyes had venting incisions, and 7 eyes had
Descemet's membrane stripped ([Table 2]). The stromal bed was not scraped, and peripheral iridotomies were not made on any
eyes.
Table 2
Summary of surgical procedures performed
|
Variable
|
All eyes
(N = 18)
|
|
Combined procedure (%)
|
|
None
|
9 (50%)
|
|
Phacoemulsification/IOL
|
4 (22%)
|
|
Revision of ACTS
|
2 (11%)
|
|
Scleral-sutured IOL +/− ACIOL removal
|
3 (17%)
|
|
Venting incision used (n, %)
|
10 (56%)
|
|
Descemet's not stripped (n, %)
|
11 (61%)
|
Abbreviations: ACIOL, anterior chamber intraocular lens; ACTS, anterior chamber tube
shunt; IOL, intraocular lens.
Outcomes
Surgical Outcomes
There were no graft detachments (0 eyes, 0%) at the 1-week postoperative visit. Two
eyes (11%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0%, 26%]) developed primary graft failure,
characterized by endothelial irregularities and irreversible edema, resulting in graft
replacement with PKP. One of 11 eyes (9%) with prior complex ocular surgery (excluding
uneventful phacoemulsification) and 1 of 7 eyes (14%) with prior glaucoma surgery
were surgical failures ([Tables 3] and [4]).
Table 3
Summary of surgical outcomes for baseline characteristics and surgical parameters
|
Variable
|
All Eyes
(N = 18)
(n, %[a])
|
Surgical failure eyes (N = 2)
|
Surgical success eyes
(N = 16)
(n, %[b])
|
|
Graft detachment
(N = 0)
|
Graft failure
(N = 2)
(n, %[b])
|
|
Previous complex ocular surgery[c]
|
11 (61%)
|
0
|
1 (9%)
|
10 (91%)
|
|
Previous glaucoma surgery
|
7 (39%)
|
0
|
1 (14%)
|
6 (86%)
|
|
Indication for DSAEK
|
|
Pseudophakic bullous keratopathy
|
10 (56%)
|
0
|
1 (1%)
|
9 (90%)
|
|
Fuchs endothelial dystrophy
|
4 (22%)
|
0
|
0 (0%)
|
4 (100%)
|
|
Others
|
4 (22%)
|
0
|
1 (50%)
|
3 (75%)
|
|
Venting incision used
|
10 (56%)
|
0
|
1 (10%)
|
9 (90%)
|
|
Descemet's stripped
|
|
Yes
|
7 (39%)
|
0
|
1 (14%)
|
6 (86%)
|
|
No
|
11 (61%)
|
0
|
1 (9%)
|
10 (91%)
|
|
Intraoperative complications
|
1 (6%)
|
0
|
1 (100%)
|
0 (0%)
|
Abbreviations: DSAEK, Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty; IOL,
intraocular lens.
a Percentages among all eyes.
b Percentages among eyes with that baseline characteristic or surgical parameter.
c Excludes uneventful phacoemulsification with IOL.
Table 4
Summary of surgical outcomes in patients with previous complex ocular surgeries[a]
|
ID
|
Prior complex ocular surgeries[a]
|
No. of prior complex ocular surgeries
|
Indication for DSAEK
|
Type of surgery
|
Graft detachment
|
Graft failure
|
|
1
|
ACTS; ACTS repositioning to sulcus
|
2
|
Others
|
DSAEK
|
No
|
No
|
|
2
|
Phaco/IOL; ACTS
|
2
|
PBK
|
DSAEK/ACTS trimming
|
No
|
No
|
|
3
|
Phaco/ACIOL; PPV with removal of retained lens material; ACIOL explantation; ACTS
|
4
|
PBK
|
DSAEK/sutured IOL
|
No
|
No
|
|
4
|
Scleral buckle; secondary IOL; IOL exchange
|
3
|
PBK
|
DSAEK
|
No
|
No
|
|
5
|
ACTS; phaco/IOL; ACTS revision/reposition × 3 with PPV
|
5
|
PBK
|
DSAEK
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
6
|
Trabeculectomy; phaco/IOL
|
2
|
PBK
|
DSAEK
|
No
|
No
|
|
7
|
ACTS; revision of ACTS; phaco/sulcus IOL; additional ACTS
|
4
|
Others
|
DSAEK/reposition of ACTS
|
No
|
No
|
|
8
|
Scleral buckle; phaco/sulcus IOL; PPV/removal of sulcus IOL and retained lens fragments
|
3
|
PBK
|
DSAEK/sutured IOL
|
No
|
No
|
|
9
|
Phaco/aphakic; PPV/scleral-sutured IOL
|
2
|
PBK
|
DSAEK
|
No
|
No
|
|
10
|
Phaco/ACIOL
|
1
|
PBK
|
DSAEK
|
No
|
No
|
|
11
|
ACTS; phaco/ACIOL
|
2
|
PBK
|
DSAEK/ACIOL removal/sutured IOL
|
No
|
No
|
Abbreviations: ACIOL, anterior chamber intraocular lens; ACTS, anterior chamber tube
shunt; DSAEK, Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty; IOL, intraocular
lens; Phaco, phacoemulsification; PPV, pars plana vitrectomy.
Forward slash (/) indicates procedures performed during single operation; semicolons
separate different operations.
a Excludes uncomplicated phacoemulsification with IOL.
One eye that developed primary graft failure underwent DSAEK surgery for PBK. This
eye had an extensive ocular surgical history prior to the DSAEK: ACTS, phacoemulsification
with IOL placement in the capsular bag, three ACTS revisions with repositioning, and
a pars plana vitrectomy. At postoperative week 1, the graft was fully attached yet
opaque and edematous. At postoperative month 3, there was iridocorneal touch superiorly
and bullous keratopathy.
The other eye that developed primary graft failure underwent a combined DSAEK with
phacoemulsification with IOL placement for bullous keratopathy from ICE. An anterior
capsule was torn intraoperatively during phacoemulsification, requiring the placement
of a sulcus IOL. At postoperative week 1, the graft was attached centrally; however,
the cornea was edematous with stromal haze, microcystic edema, and an epithelial defect
at and after the month 1 visit. This patient had no prior ocular surgeries.
Functional Outcomes
At the last follow-up visit, the average VA of all 18 eyes was 0.99 logMAR (±0.87),
which was an improvement of 0.34 logMAR (±0.83) from the baseline vision. Of the 16
surgical successes, the average VA at the last visit (0.91 logMAR [±0.80]) was significantly
improved by 0.46 logMAR (±0.73) from baseline (1.37 logMAR [±0.89]) (p = 0.024). The mean improvement in VA from baseline was similar among the three indications,
0.47 logMAR (±0.62) for Fuchs, 0.15 logMAR (±1.01) for PBK, and 0.68 logMAR (±0.62)
for others (p = 0.58).
Discussion
DSAEK offers improved visual outcomes and has a more favorable complication profile
in comparison to PKP; however, DSAEK requires greater surgical skill and is traditionally
reserved for cornea fellows and attending physicians.[1]
[2]
[4] This study showed that no eyes (0%) developed graft detachment and two eyes (11%)
developed primary graft failure when DSAEK was performed by residents as the primary
surgeons.
The learning curve for DSAEK surgery is a common topic in the literature, and it is
widely accepted that the rates of graft detachment and failure improve with surgeon
experience. Mojica et al stratified surgeon experience into five levels, with a level
1 surgeon having done 1 to 10 DSAEK surgeries and a level 5 surgeon having done more
than 100 DSAEK surgeries. The authors reported a primary graft failure rate of 21.8%
for the level 1 surgeon compared with 1.5% for the level 5 surgeon.[6] Hashemi et al reviewed the results of DSAEK surgery for cornea fellows and found
graft detachment in 17 eyes (21.7%) and graft failure in 8 eyes (10.2%),[5] compared with a graft detachment rate of 2.7 and 8.9% and a graft failure rate of
4.1 and 3.0% in attending surgeons at a tertiary academic center in eyes without previous
glaucoma surgery.[11]
[12] Given this steep learning curve, cornea specialists are hesitant to allow residents
to be primary surgeons for DSAEK surgery, and to the best of our knowledge, we could
not find any other publications in the literature discussing the results of residents
as primary surgeons for DSAEK (PubMed search on May 14, 2017, using the terms “DSAEK”
and “resident,” or “DSAEK” and “novice”). The only study that touches on resident
outcomes for DSAEK involved ex vivo cadaveric eyes, and this study also showed that
endothelial cell loss improved with surgical experience.[8]
All of these DSAEK surgical cases were staffed by a single experienced cornea-fellowship-trained
attending who would be a level 5 surgeon (>100 cases) in experience as defined by
Mojica et al.[6] It seems logical that the level of experience of the attending surgeon may be a
more important factor than the level of experience of the resident surgeon, as surgical
decision making is as important as technical skill level in performing a successful
DSAEK surgery.
In our study, 10 different PGY-4 residents served as primary surgeons, and no single
resident had done more than three cases. Our graft detachment rate of 0% and primary
graft failure rate of 11% are far better than those discussed in the literature for
novice surgeons.[5]
[6] There are several technique variations that, we think, make our procedure easier
for novice surgeons: (1) use of a Busin glide; (2) use of an anterior chamber maintainer;
(3) no viscoelastic on graft; and (4) no stripping of Descemet's membrane for PBK
and glaucoma incisional surgery patients. Given that most of the studies of the results
of novice surgeons used a forceps delivery for graft placement, this study may indicate
that a Busin glide delivery may be an easier surgical technique for the novice surgeon.[13]
[14] The anterior chamber maintainer prevents shallowing, particularly in cases with
an ACTS; allows graft insertion above the tube; and avoids mechanical trauma to the
graft from the tube. The anterior chamber maintainer also does not require viscoelastic
on the graft, which can deposit in the interface and cause early graft detachment.
There is a precedent to our surgical technique to explain not stripping Descemet's
membrane in glaucoma surgery patients. Fuchs dystrophy is a disease of the Descemet's
membrane, as evidenced by thickening of Descemet's membrane and formation of guttate
on histopathology, and Descemet's membrane needs to be removed prior to DSAEK surgery.[15] There have been reports that by merely removing Descemet's membrane, peripheral
endothelial cells will migrate centrally and result in corneal clearing even without
the insertion of a DSAEK lenticule.[16] PBK and endothelial dysfunction related to glaucoma and glaucoma surgery, however,
are iatrogenic and involve only endothelial cell loss without any disease of Descemet's
membrane. Not removing the Descemet's membrane makes the surgery technically easier
and allows the surgery to be free of any viscoelastic agent, which may also contribute
to early postoperative graft detachment. A variety of different DSAEK techniques have
been used with variations in wound size and the presence or absence of venting incisions,[7]
[14]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20] with none of these technique variations yielding a superior outcome. Of note, none
of the eyes had the host stromal bed scraped as described by Terry et al.[19]
Many of these patients were not ideal candidates for a novice DSAEK surgeon, as many
of the patients had concurrent surgery involving tube revision, ACIOL removal, scleral-sutured
IOL, and previous glaucoma surgery ([Table 4]). The results from our resident surgeons are much better than those published even
for attending surgeons. Our results in glaucoma surgical patients yielded a 0% detachment
rate and a 14% primary failure rate, which is much better than those published in
the literature, albeit our study had only seven eyes with these characteristics. Prior
glaucoma surgery is known to increase the detachment and primary failure rate even
in the hands of the most experienced surgeons.[11]
[12]
[21]
[22]
[23]
One reason for the difference in complication rates in our study for eyes with prior
glaucoma surgery may be a difference in technique. For eyes with PBK or glaucoma-related
(both surgical and nonsurgical) endothelial dysfunction, the Descemet's membrane was
not stripped as part of the surgery, which is unique when compared with most of the
sentinel DSAEK techniques published.[7]
[14]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20] Another difference lies at the end of the case, where the entire eye was filled
with air, and the participant left in a face-up position for 1 hour after the surgery
and allowed to go home without air removal. Anecdotally, even with eyes filled with
air at the end of surgery, many of these participants would come to their postoperative
day 1 visits without any air in the anterior chamber. No participants had an intraocular
pressure spike on postoperative day 1. Having a complete air fill prior to discharge
may have improved the rate of graft adherence in patients with incisional glaucoma
surgery.
A limitation of this study is that it is a retrospective case series that does not
contain a control group; thus, we cannot ascertain which surgical variation changed
outcomes. Our primary outcome was determined by slit lamp examination. Future studies
should include endothelial cell count and percentage of cell loss; however, because
this study was retrospective, these data were not available. In addition, there is
a relatively small sample size.
Our study shows the results of 10 resident primary surgeons with minimum to no prior
DSAEK surgical experience who achieved a comparable complication rate to those published
in the literature. DSAEK surgery with residents as the primary surgeon is a safe and
effective procedure with reasonably good outcomes as long as they are staffed by an
experienced cornea surgeon.