Corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) in eye bank

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Transplantation Medicine
• Quality Management

Background:

• Eye banking faces challenges impacting corneal transplantation success.
• Quality assurance programs are essential for safe tissue retrieval and processing.
• Case studies reveal specific areas for process improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight challenges in eye banking operations.
• To demonstrate the importance of corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• To illustrate how CAPAs improve quality and patient safety in corneal transplantation.

Main Methods:

• A case series approach was used, detailing three specific incidents.
• Corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) were triggered and implemented.
• Root cause analysis and policy revisions were conducted.

Main Results:

• Case 1: Training enhanced to prevent retrieval failures.
• Case 2: Improved protocols for blood samples and documentation.
• Case 3: Policy revisions and staff training addressed mishandling issues.

Conclusions:

• Continuous CAPA implementation is vital for ongoing quality improvement in eye banking.
• Addressing errors related to personnel, equipment, processes, and policies is necessary.
• Enhanced quality assurance ensures safe and effective corneal tissue for transplantation.