Article

Proper planning is the key to successful PKP

Refractive surgeons wishing to achieve successful penetrating keratoplasty need only plan their surgeries more closely.

Refractive surgeons wishing to achieve successful penetrating keratoplasty need only plan their surgeries more closely.

In a presentation entitled "Treating Intraoperative Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP) Complications," Mark Mannis, MD, of the United States outlined four elements to a successful PKP surgery at the World Ophthalmology Congress on Monday. The elements are: 1) careful patient selection, 2) careful donor selection, 3) proper pre-operative planning, and 4) have a readiness for the unexpected.

Dr. Mannis pointed out that most PKP complications occur because of either poor patient selection or poor donors. Some patient factors to consider with regard to PKP include age, an underlying disease, body habitus, ocular surface factors, and pre-anesthesia factors.

Proper pre-operative planning includes the proper procedure selection. Is it PKP or is it a combined procedure? Dr. Mannis urges that the physician have the proper tools at their disposal, including an elevating lid speculum, a Fliering Ring, and a Honan balloon. During surgery, physicians should maintain correct donor handling and assure the proper placement of the Fliering Ring because poor placement can cause astigmatism.

Dr. Mannis also suggested that when it comes precautionary measures, surgeons should always try to prevent bleeding. If bleeding does occur, he recommends Thrombin because it works instantly to stop blood flow and begin clotting. It also stabilizes the ocular surface and there are no side effects.

Newsletter

Don’t miss out—get Ophthalmology Times updates on the latest clinical advancements and expert interviews, straight to your inbox.

Related Videos
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) ASCRS 2025: Mark Lobanoff, MD, on making the move to office-based surgery
Barsha Lal, PhD, discusses the way low dose atropine affects accommodative amplitude and dynamics at the 2025 ARVO meeting
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) NeuroOp Guru: When eye findings should prompt neuroimaging in suspected neuro-Behcet disease
At the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting, Katherine Talcott, MD, a retina specialist at Cleveland Clinic, shared her findings on EYP-1901 (EyePoint Pharmaceuticals) in the phase 2 DAVIO study.
Dr. Jogin Desai, founder of Eyestem Research, discusses his research at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) ASCRS 2025: Michael Rivers, MD, shares his takeaways as a panelist at the inaugural SightLine event
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) ASCRS 2025: Karl Stonecipher, MD, on LASIK outcomes using an aspheric excimer laser for high myopia
John Tan talks about an emergency triage framework for retinal artery occlusion at the 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) meeting.
Dr Robert Maloney at the 2025 Controversies in Modern Eye Care meeting
Wendy Lee, MD, MS, at Controversies in Modern Eye Care 2025.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.