A Surgical Cryoprobe for Targeted Transcorneal Freezing and Endothelial Cell Removal

Akhbanbetova, Alina and Nakano, Shinichiro and Littlechild, Stacy L. and Young, Robert D. and Zvirgzdina, Madara and Fullwood, Nigel J. and Weston, Ian and Weston, Philip and Kinoshita, Shigeru and Okumura, Naoki and Koizumi, Noriko and Quantock, Andrew J. (2017) A Surgical Cryoprobe for Targeted Transcorneal Freezing and Endothelial Cell Removal. Journal of Ophthalmology, 2017. ISSN 2090-004X

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Abstract

Purpose. To examine the effects of transcorneal freezing using a new cryoprobe designed for corneal endothelial surgery. Methods. A freezing console employing nitrous oxide as a cryogen was used to cool a series of different cryoprobe tip designs made of silver for high thermal conductivity. In vitro studies were conducted on 426 porcine corneas, followed by preliminary in vivo investigations on three rabbit corneas. Results. The corneal epithelium was destroyed by transcorneal freezing, as expected; however, the epithelial basement membrane remained intact. Reproducible endothelial damage was optimally achieved using a 3.4 mm diameter cryoprobe with a concave tip profile. Stromal edema was seen in the pre-Descemet's area 24 hrs postfreeze injury, but this had been resolved by 10 days postfreeze. A normal collagen fibril structure was seen 1 month postfreeze, concurrent with endothelial cell repopulation. Conclusions. Transcorneal freezing induces transient posterior stromal edema and some residual deep stromal haze but leaves the epithelial basement membrane intact, which is likely to be important for corneal re-epithelialization. Localized destruction of the endothelial monolayer was achieved in a consistent manner with a 3.4 mm diameter/concave profile cryoprobe and represents a potentially useful approach to remove dysfunctional corneal endothelial cells from corneas with endothelial dysfunction.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Ophthalmology
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2731
Subjects:
?? OPHTHALMOLOGY ??
ID Code:
131097
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
07 Feb 2019 09:35
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
20 Sep 2023 01:20