Outpatient penetrating keratoplasty

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Penetrating keratoplasty is a common corneal transplant procedure.
• Traditionally performed as an inpatient procedure, it necessitates hospital stays.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of elective penetrating keratoplasty performed on an outpatient basis.
• To assess patient acceptance of same-day corneal transplant surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 37 patients undergoing outpatient penetrating keratoplasty since July 1987.
• Procedures performed under local anesthesia with minimal sedation in most cases.
• Inclusion of accompanying surgeries such as cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation.

Main Results:

• Common indications included herpetic keratitis, keratoconus, and corneal edema post-surgery.
• High patient acceptance and a favorable safety profile were observed.
• Outpatient surgery proved effective without requiring hospitalization.

Conclusions:

• Elective penetrating keratoplasty can be safely and effectively performed in an outpatient setting.
• Outpatient corneal transplantation offers a viable alternative to inpatient procedures with excellent patient satisfaction.