Graft preparation for DMEK surgery - SCUBA technique | Dr Sami A. Saad featuring Dr S. Labani

In this video, my fellow resident, Dr S. Labani is preparing the donor graft for one of my DMEK (Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty) surgery, using the SCUBA technique (Submerged Cornea Using Backgrounds Away). It is the first step in DMEK corneal graft surgery. Learning how to prepare the donor tissue is a fundamental requisite for DMEK surgeons, even though some eye banks can prepare the donor tissue before the surgery. I highlight the major key points of the DMEK graft preparation using an easy and reproductible method. I also give tips and tricks for surgeons and eye bank staff that are learning how to harvest Descemet Membrane from donor cornea or learning how to perform DMEK surgery. The following DMEK surgery procedure will be upload soon in another video. Stay tuned !

Key points:
Use the right instruments
Enhance visualization with Blue trypan dye
Do not press too hard during the scoring
Every manipulation should be performed under BSS
Remove irregular Descemet membrane tags and exclude radial tears
Beware not to grab the edge of the stroma while peeling
Select the trephine size based on the patient's eye and type of pathology
The movement of the peel is straight and horizontal to the two-third and vertical at the final-peel end
Minimize endothelial cell loss

Music: A Vava Inouva, by IDIR - Algerian folklore.
Tribute to my French Algerian friend and colleague, Dr S. Labani and to all Algerian ophthalmologists around the world.

#DMEK #DMEKsurgery #CornealTransplant #CornealSurgery #EyeSurgery