Use of Pressurized Air Infusion For Pre Descemet's Endothelial Keratoplasty (PDEK) - The Air Pump Assisted PDEK Technique

PURPOSE: To assess the advantages offered by the air pump assisted PDEK technique that utilizes pressurized Anterior Chamber (AC) air infusion. METHODS: Pressurized air infusion was provided through an anterior chamber maintainer connected to the fluid air exchange system of a posterior vitrectomy machine during surgery. RESULTS: Pressurized air infusion within the AC helped perform Descemetorhexis, prevented bleeding during Peripheral Iridectomy (PI) and synechiolysis, prevented oozing of blood from peripheral corneal neovascularization into the AC and thus helped maintain a non-fibrinous AC environment. In addition, it helped in precise graft manipulation, centration, edge unfolding and unwrinkling after it was floated against the stroma as well as faster graft adhesion. It also prevented AC depth fluctuations during intra-cameral maneuvers and prevented intra-operative as well as post-operative graft detachment. CONCLUSIONS: This technique makes several steps of surgery easier and improves graft adhesion.