Thomas D. Miller, MS, CEBT, Paul J. Trizuto, BS, Caroline K. Hoover, MBA, CEBT, Andrew J. Maxwell, BA, CEBT, and Andrea L. Crosson, BS, CEBT
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To describe tissue quality and suitability for transplantation
of donor corneas recovered following a vitreous draw
performed by a coroner or medical examiner, as compared to a
control group.
Methods: A retrospective review of donor records was performed
for 41 donors (72 donor eyes) who had a vitreous draw
performed prior to corneal recovery. Results were compared
to a control group of 90 donors (176 eyes) who died of similar
causes but did not have a vitreous draw performed. The primary
outcome measures are between-group comparisons of endothelial
cell density and tissue quality measures for the epithelium,
stroma, Descemet’s membrane, and endothelium, as well as
reportable adverse events.
Results: There were no statistically significant differences in
mean endothelial cell density (2999 ± 926 cells/mm² in the
study group vs. 2953 ± 980 cells/mm² in the control group) or
in quality measures of the epithelium, stroma, or Descemet’s
membrane. The number and degree of endothelial stress lines
were statistically significantly greater in donor corneas in which
vitreous draw were performed prior to recovery of corneas. From
the study group 72 of the 82 post-vitreous-draw corneas were
used by surgeons, with no cases of graft rejection, infection, or
other adverse issues.
Conclusions: The data suggest that prior vitreous draw performed
by a medical examiner or coroner using a sterile needle
has a negligible or non-measurable effect on post-recovery corneal
tissue safety, efficacy and transplantation success. Further
study is required to assess the degree of endothelial cell loss in
post-vitreous-draw donor corneas following transplantation.