Development of an experimental animal model for deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty

• Autores: Lucía Ibares Frías, Jesús Merayo Lloves, L Fabiani, J. T. Blanco Mezquita, C Martínez García, Isabel Lema Gesto, Juan Antonio Durán de la Colina, Paulo Ferrara
• Localización: Journal of Emmetropia: Journal of Cataract, Refractive and Corneal Surgery, ISSN-e 2171-4703, Vol. 1, Nº. 3, 2010, págs. 140-145
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • PURPOSE: The aim for the study was the development of an animal experimental model for deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK).

    METHOD: Lohman Brown chickens were used as animal model. The study was divided into two separate phases: the first one comprised carrying out the surgery on the enucleated eyes donated by a local butchery for surgical training and selecting the technique the better adapts to the model. Several techniques for the dissection of the predescemetic plane were carried out, dissection with balanced solution, air, viscoelastic and nylon-silk 6/0 thread. On the second phase, for the study of the clinical evolution of the surgery and the healing mechanisms involved, surgery was carried out on one single eye of ten chickens using the modified Ferrara spatula dissection with 6/0 nylon-silk thread. Clinical follow up through surgical microscope was then completed up to 6 months, when the animals were sacrificed. For the histological study hematoxylin -eosin staining of the fixed corneas was done at 6 months.

    RESULTS: The material was appropriately adapted and the dissection technique with nylon-silk thread and modified Ferrara spatula was selected for keratoplasty. In the second phase, surgery was successfully carried out on 7 chickens. As postoperatory complications neovascularization in 4 eyes and anterior sinequiae in 3 eyes were found. Clinical follow up showed a moderate corneal swelling that decreased over time. Histological analysis showed fibroblastic reaction in the interface of both corneas.

    CONCLUSION: An experimental animal model for DALK was developed in chicken.

    Histologically a fibrotic reaction in the interface exists and clinically there is a moderate degree of haze in the corneal center.