PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Lie, J T
AU  - Lock, F M
AU  - Mulder, P G H
AU  - van der Wees, J
AU  - Melles, G R J
TI  - Floating device for donor corneas in organ culture
AID  - 10.1136/bjo.2008.140574
DP  - 2008 Dec 01
TA  - British Journal of Ophthalmology
PG  - 1676--1678
VI  - 92
IP  - 12
4099  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/92/12/1676.short
4100  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/92/12/1676.full
SO  - Br J Ophthalmol2008 Dec 01; 92
AB  - Aim: To introduce a new floating device for donor corneas to avoid accumulation of debris onto the endothelial surface during organ culture and to facilitate handling of the tissue during preservation and surgery. Methods: From 11 donors, one randomly chosen cornea was stored in organ culture attached to a floating device, while the contralateral cornea was attached to the lid of the phial by a suture (“hanging by suture”). Endothelial cell density (ECD) was evaluated prior to tissue storage and after 2–3 weeks of culture. Furthermore, we compared ECD in a larger group of corneas sent off for transplantation with the device (n = 281) to a historical group of control corneas “hanging by suture” (n = 444). Results: There was no significant difference in ECD between corneas attached to the floating device or “hanging by suture” (n = 11; p⩾0.1). Similarly, no different ECDs were observed between corneas sent off for transplantation with the device (n = 281) and the historical group of control corneas “hanging by suture” (n = 444) (p⩾0.1). Conclusion: The use of the floating device may not affect tissue quality. Since its introduction, the use of the device has been uneventful and greatly facilitated tissue handling.