Five-Year Activity And Outcomes Of Endothelial Keratoplasty At Spain Tissue Bank (2020–2024)
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: POCOR277 | Type: Poster | DOI: 10.82333/sz98-bf10
Authors: Dr Ana Señaris Señaris González* 1 , Dr Marta Pevida López 2 , Dr Alvaro Meana Infiesta 2 , Dr Maria Fernandez Garcia 1 , Dr Marta Alvarez Coronado 1 , Dr Begoña Baamonde Arbaiza 1
1Cornea,Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias,Oviedo,Spain, 2Banco de Tejidos de Asturias. ,Centro Comunitario de Sangre y Tejidos del Principado de Asturias. Cruz Roja.,Oviedo,Spain
Purpose
Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) is a widely performed procedure to restore corneal clarity in patients with endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to analyze the activity and the clinical outcomes of endothelial tissues prepared over a five-year period in our region (2020–2024).
Setting
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Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted on all endothelial tissues processed and sent for transplantation to the Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA) during the period 2020-2024. The method used for the endotelial separation was no-touch tecnique, perfomed in a clean room by two trained staff. The surgical intervention was performed exclusively by two ophthalmologists. 277 endothelial tissues were processed, 265 were used for transplantation and 12 were discarded during the process, 5 of them due to tissue fragmentation and 7 for poor tissue condition. The success rate was 95,67%. 133 endothelial tissues were sent for transplantation to the HUCA. Donors were 44.63% female and 55.37% male, with a mean age of 64.81 years.
Results
Recipients were 67.5% female and 32.5% male, mean age of 69.83 years. The most common indication was Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (74.43%), followed by bullous keratopathy (9.6%) and other pathologies (15%). The mean initial endothelial cell count was 2758 cells/mm² and the mean final endothelial cell count was 1527. The percentage of endothelial cells loss after surgery is practically the same between fresh endothelial separation (47%) and cultured separation (50%). The mean follow-up patients was 30.74 months.Rebubbling was required in 19.55% of eyes. Graft rejection occurred in 3,75% of patients; primary and secondary failure was 9,77%. Regarding best corrected visual acuity (MAVC), the mean value was 0.62, with a range from 0.01 to 1.
Conclusions
Over the period analysed, the tissue bank successfully provided endothelial tissues for transplantation. These results highlight the effectiveness of the endothelial tissue preparation performed at this local tissue bank