Al Ahli Hospital, in order to ensure the safety of corneal transplantation and increase its success rate, has introduced a special automated device to analyse the quality of the sensitive tissue, especially when it comes from distant places such as the US and Europe.
“A sophisticated, digitalised specular microscope now ensures accurate tissue prior to the surgical procedure, which is commensurate with international safety standards,” the hospital said in a statement.
Due to the lack of a national eye bank facility and dearth of donors, corneal transplantation in Qatar relies on tissues brought from other countries. “These tissues are extremely sensitive. One cell layer must survive the handling and the long journey in order to make the surgery a success. However, the cells cannot be seen and assessed without this special microscope,” the statement noted, adding that the microscope facility will be made available for institutions requesting for the same in Qatar.
Until now, reliance on data from the institution sending the tissue carried an increased risk of failure, and recent studies have shown that the preoperative final grading of tissues was significantly different compared to the initial condition of the organ.
The possibility of decaying tissues due to faulty harvesting from the donor, inappropriate storage and handling and travel delays may expose the delicate cell layers to adverse conditions. This, in turn, will reduce the number of properly functioning cells necessary for a successful transplantation procedure.
If poor-quality material is used, an unsuccessful surgery due to primary graft failure (for example, the transplant does not work properly and the cornea is opaque instead of clear) results. “Primary graft failure lets the patient suffer psychologically and physically, and necessitates an immediate second surgery,” said Prof Alexander Bialasiewicz, head of the ophthalmology department at Al Ahli Hospital.
“Transplantation of low quality material can be avoided by the use of this device, and patient safety and satisfaction can be increased. Even if the local acquisition of corneas for an eye bank facility is not foreseeable, the benefit of an eye bank specular microscope to analyse the quality of transplant material coming from abroad is clear. Therefore, this facility will be made available for requesting institutions in
Qatar,” the statement added.
