ANÁLISE DOS ASPECTOS SOCIODEMOGRÁFICOS E CLÍNICOS EM CERATOPLASTIAS DE URGÊNCIA

Abstract

Background: Corneal transplant surgery, called keratoplasty, consists of an intervention that has been improved over the decades for the treatment of various eye diseases, with most of it performed electively. Some situations may require that the transplant becomes a medical emergency, in which case the surgery must be performed as soon as possible to avoid serious complications, such as infections and vision loss. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical aspects of patients who underwent corneal transplants through emergency surgeries. Method: This is an epidemiological, cross-sectional, individualized, descriptive and analytical study, carried out based on the records of the State Transplant Center (CET) of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul and the Human Ocular Tissue Bank (BTOH) of the Santa Casa da Associação Beneficente de Campo Grande hospital, with a time frame of five years (2014 to 2018). Data were collected using an instrument specifically designed for the purposes of this study. It was previously approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee. Results: A total of 823 corneal transplants were performed during the analyzed period, of which 64 were emergency surgeries, representing a prevalence of approximately 8%, with the majority being male and over 50 years of age. In 28 cases, mechanical perforations were the indicative conditions for the procedure, followed by infectious ulcerative keratitis in 16 cases and primary failure in another six. Conclusion: Corneal transplantation is an important therapeutic option for patients with severe ocular injuries, but recent studies have shown promising results of noninvasive therapies. Understanding the risk factors associated with emergency surgery may help improve the quality of health care provided to transplant recipients. It is worth noting that current advances in corneal transplants and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic can be useful in guiding the improvement and development of public policies and health strategies, as well as promoting research in the area for technical improvement and offering better results to transplant recipients.