An analysis of tissue utilization at a tertiary care institute associated eye bank to improve tissue procurement and tissue utilization

Abstract

Background: In India, most tissues are received from voluntary donors. There is a huge potential of harvesting surgically competent tissues by the Hospital Cornea Retrieval Program which involves counselors trained in grief counseling and tissue retrieval, posted at hospitals. They approach families of all the deceased in the hospital motivate them to pledge the eyes of the deceased: Advantage being that no potential donor is missed, easy availability of medical history, and reduced time interval between death and corneal excision. Aims: The aim of this study is to examine the utilization of corneas procured and determine how maximum tissue procurement and utilization can be ensured. Setting and Design: Tissue utilization analyzed at a tertiary care eye bank (EB) postapplication of revised guidelines of standards of eye banking of India, 2009. Materials and Methods: Data between January 2010 and December 2012 were reviewed. Reasons for rejection of corneas for transplantation were noted. Statistical Analysis: Retrospective analysis. Results: Of 1908 corneas accepted at our EBs in that duration, 1239 (65%) were received from voluntary donors at their residence and from other associated EBs; 599 corneas (31%) from hospitals and 70 (4%) came from mortuary. Six hundred and twenty-three corneas (33%) were transplanted, 1007 (53%) were directed toward research or training and 91 (5%) tissues had to be incinerated. Seven hundred and thirty-four (38%) were excluded from transplantation due to a contraindication in the donor's medical history. Conclusion: Majority tissues are received from voluntary eye donation with most tissues excluded due to contraindication in donor's medical history. Ensuring thoroughly trained, well-equipped enucleation teams reaching out to all suitable donors from hospitals and voluntary donors can hugely increase the numbers of surgically competent tissues.