Performance outcomes from a DMEK peeling and preparation wet lab

Objective To evaluate the Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) preparation performance of trainee surgeons in an ex vivo human donor cornea DMEK wet lab simulation setting.Methods Human donor corneoscleral rims unsuitable for transplantation were obtained from Moorfields Lions Eye Bank....

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Main Authors: Sajjad Ahmad, Vito Romano, Mohit Parekh, Stefano Ferrari, Alessandro Ruzza, Matteo Airaldi, Alexander George Wallace
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-05-01
Series:BMJ Open Ophthalmology
Online Access:https://bmjophth.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001540.full
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author Sajjad Ahmad
Vito Romano
Mohit Parekh
Stefano Ferrari
Alessandro Ruzza
Matteo Airaldi
Alexander George Wallace
author_facet Sajjad Ahmad
Vito Romano
Mohit Parekh
Stefano Ferrari
Alessandro Ruzza
Matteo Airaldi
Alexander George Wallace
author_sort Sajjad Ahmad
collection DOAJ
description Objective To evaluate the Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) preparation performance of trainee surgeons in an ex vivo human donor cornea DMEK wet lab simulation setting.Methods Human donor corneoscleral rims unsuitable for transplantation were obtained from Moorfields Lions Eye Bank. At the wet lab, graft stripping was performed by scoring the peripheral endothelium. The trypan blue positive cells (TBPC) and cell density (cells/mm2—reticule count) were counted manually before and after stripping. The procedural time, peripheral and central tears and complete peel-off were also recorded and analysed.Results Eight trainee surgeons attended the wet lab each attempting three DMEKs. Between the first and last attempts a significant decrease was seen in the procedural time (17.6 min vs 10.6 min (p<0.05)) and the TBPC % (12.9% vs 3.8% (p<0.05)). The percentage of tears peripherally and centrally also reduced between the first and the last trials (50% vs 13% (p=0.2226) and 38% vs 0% (p=0.1327)). A significant correlation was found between longer peeling times and higher TBPC % (p<0.001) with a 0.7% endothelial mortality increase for each additional minute required to complete the peel.Conclusions DMEK wet labs provide a controlled risk-free learning opportunity for trainee surgeons to improve confidence and competence. Wet labs improve the success rate of DMEK graft preparation as well as flatten the learning curve. This emphasises the importance of continued support for the expansion of this valuable learning resource, promoting wider uptake of DMEK surgery.
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spelling doaj-art-c5b54f8b03e54b6794929f1e5a16c9752025-02-06T13:50:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Ophthalmology2397-32692024-05-019110.1136/bmjophth-2023-001540Performance outcomes from a DMEK peeling and preparation wet labSajjad Ahmad0Vito Romano1Mohit Parekh2Stefano Ferrari3Alessandro Ruzza4Matteo Airaldi5Alexander George Wallace6Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKDepartment of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, ItalySchepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USAResearch Centre, Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto, Venice, ItalyFondazione Banca degli Occi del Veneto, Mestre, Venice, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, ItalyUniversity of Liverpool, Liverpool, UKObjective To evaluate the Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) preparation performance of trainee surgeons in an ex vivo human donor cornea DMEK wet lab simulation setting.Methods Human donor corneoscleral rims unsuitable for transplantation were obtained from Moorfields Lions Eye Bank. At the wet lab, graft stripping was performed by scoring the peripheral endothelium. The trypan blue positive cells (TBPC) and cell density (cells/mm2—reticule count) were counted manually before and after stripping. The procedural time, peripheral and central tears and complete peel-off were also recorded and analysed.Results Eight trainee surgeons attended the wet lab each attempting three DMEKs. Between the first and last attempts a significant decrease was seen in the procedural time (17.6 min vs 10.6 min (p<0.05)) and the TBPC % (12.9% vs 3.8% (p<0.05)). The percentage of tears peripherally and centrally also reduced between the first and the last trials (50% vs 13% (p=0.2226) and 38% vs 0% (p=0.1327)). A significant correlation was found between longer peeling times and higher TBPC % (p<0.001) with a 0.7% endothelial mortality increase for each additional minute required to complete the peel.Conclusions DMEK wet labs provide a controlled risk-free learning opportunity for trainee surgeons to improve confidence and competence. Wet labs improve the success rate of DMEK graft preparation as well as flatten the learning curve. This emphasises the importance of continued support for the expansion of this valuable learning resource, promoting wider uptake of DMEK surgery.https://bmjophth.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001540.full
spellingShingle Sajjad Ahmad
Vito Romano
Mohit Parekh
Stefano Ferrari
Alessandro Ruzza
Matteo Airaldi
Alexander George Wallace
Performance outcomes from a DMEK peeling and preparation wet lab
BMJ Open Ophthalmology
title Performance outcomes from a DMEK peeling and preparation wet lab
title_full Performance outcomes from a DMEK peeling and preparation wet lab
title_fullStr Performance outcomes from a DMEK peeling and preparation wet lab
title_full_unstemmed Performance outcomes from a DMEK peeling and preparation wet lab
title_short Performance outcomes from a DMEK peeling and preparation wet lab
title_sort performance outcomes from a dmek peeling and preparation wet lab
url https://bmjophth.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001540.full
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