Clinical results of 40 years of paediatric keratoplasty in a single university eye clinic

Preoperative Structural Risk Factors for Glaucoma After Penetrating Keratoplasty for Congenital Corneal Opacity: An Observational Study

INTRODUCTION

Post-keratoplasty glaucoma (PKG) is a major complication following penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) for congenital corneal opacity (CCO). This study aims to assess the preoperative structural risk factors for PKG following PKP for CCO using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM).

METHODS

Pediatric patients with CCO who underwent preoperative UBM and primary PKP were enrolled. Patients with anterior segment operation history or with a follow-up duration less than 12 months were excluded. The structural features of the anterior segment including central corneal thickness, anterior chamber depth, angle closure range (ACR), anterior synechia range, maximum iridocorneal adhesion length, abnormal iridocorneal synechia, and lens anomalies were identified on UBM images. The medical histories were reviewed to identify clinical features. The incidence of PKG was assessed to determine significant structural and clinical risk factors.

RESULTS

Fifty-one eyes of 51 pediatric patients with CCO were included. The median age at surgery was 8.0 months, and the mean follow-up duration was 33 ± 9 months. Eleven (21.6%) eyes developed PKG. The main structural risk factors were abnormal iridocorneal synechia (P = 0.015), lens anomaly (P = 0.001), and larger ACR (P = 0.045). However, a larger range of normal anterior synechia without involvement of the angle was not a significant risk factor. Preoperative glaucoma (P < 0.001) and higher intraocular pressure (P = 0.015) were clinical risk factors. A shallow anterior chamber was a unique risk factor for sclerocornea (P = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

Detailed preoperative examination of iridocorneal synechia, lens, and angle closure using UBM is critical for PKG risk assessment, surgical prognosis evaluation, and postoperative management in patients with CCO.

Pediatric corneal transplantation: techniques, challenges, and outcomes

Pediatric corneal transplant is a highly demanding and technically challenging procedure for the cornea surgeon in today's era. These cases pose unique challenges in clinical and surgical management. The indications of pediatric corneal transplant can be therapeutic, tectonic, optical, and cosmetic. Pediatric patients undergoing corneal transplants are at a high risk of graft infection, failure, rejection, dehiscence, and amblyopia due to young age, robust immune system, increased incidence of trauma, and compliance issues. The other factors contributing to graft failure can be allograft rejection, secondary glaucoma, corneal vascularization, multiple surgeries, vitreous prolapse, and lack of treatment compliance. A successful corneal transplant in children depends on meticulous preoperative evaluation, uneventful surgery, the expertise of a corneal surgeon, and regular and timely postoperative follow-up. Therapeutic and optical penetrating keratoplasty are the most commonly performed transplants in children. However, with the advancements in surgical technique and management protocol, the current focus has shifted toward lamellar keratoplasty. Lamellar keratoplasty offers early visual recovery and potentially fewer complications. Visual rehabilitation through corneal transplant in otherwise blind eyes can be a boon for the children. Recently, keratoprostheses have been promising in children with multiple graft failures. The current review gives insights into epidemiology, etiology, indications, clinical characteristics, investigations, management options, recent advances, and the future of pediatric corneal transplants. As surgical techniques continue to grow and comprehension of pediatric corneal transplants is improving, we can safeguard these eyes with the best possible anatomical and functional outcomes.

Outcomes following tacrolimus systemic immunosuppression for penetrating keratoplasty in infants and young children

OBJECTIVE

To report outcomes of tacrolimus immunosuppression after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in very young children.

METHODS

Retrospective, consecutive, cohort study of children undergoing PK at a tertiary children's hospital between 2005 and 2016. Oral tacrolimus immunosuppression was given for 2 years, followed by topical tacrolimus.

RESULTS

Fourteen children (20 eyes) had 24 PKs; nineteen eyes had primary PKs, five eyes had repeat PKs. Mean age at primary graft was 95 days (3.1 months) for anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD), 430 days (14.3 months) for non-ASD children. Eleven children (15 eyes) had ASD. Three children (five eyes) had non-ASD: two children (three eyes) had glaucoma-related corneal opacity and one child (two eyes) had congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED). One-year rejection-free survival rates following primary PK was 80% for ASD (n = 15) and 100% for non-ASD (n = 4). At final review, 5/15 of primary grafts for ASD were clear. 10/15 failed after a mean of 19 months, specifically attributable to infection (n = 2), rejection (n = 2) and glaucoma (n = 2). 4/4 primary non-ASD grafts are clear at final review (mean follow-up = 77 months). All repeat grafts (n = 5), failed after a mean of 38.25 months. Considering all grafts, 15/24 (62.5%) failed: 5/15 due to infection, 2/15 due to rejection, 8/15 due to glaucoma, phthisis, perforation or vascularised with no rejection. At last review (mean = 58.1 months, range 28-84), overall cohort survival is 37.5%. Final visual acuities range between 0.86 and 2.4 LogMAR.

CONCLUSION

We compare our results to published literature: 1-year graft survival was higher than previously reported, with lower failure due to rejection. Overall infection rates did not increase, however, proportionally, severe infections were higher. Overall graft survival is at least comparable to reported literature.

Update on Pediatric Corneal Diseases and Keratoplasty

Managing pediatric corneal disorders is challenging as the prognosis of pediatric keratoplasty depends on several factors. Advancements in the genetic basis of congenital corneal diseases and investigations in congenital corneal conditions provide a better understanding of pediatric corneal conditions. Surgeons performing keratoplasty in children now have a choice of various techniques. Evolving surgical techniques of anterior lamellar and endothelial keratoplasties has expanded the management interventions in these pediatric corneal morbidity conditions; however, considerable concerns still exist in association with corneal transplantation in infants and children. Outcomes in pediatric keratoplasty depend upon the preoperative indications, the timing of surgical intervention, intraoperative and postoperative factors including the patient/care givers' compliance. Factors such as low scleral rigidity, higher rate of graft failure, need for frequent examinations under anesthesia, and difficulty in optimal visual acuity assessment still remain a considerable challenge in pediatric scenarios. In children, deprivation amblyopia as a result of the corneal opacification can adversely affect visual development, causing dense amblyopia. Outcomes to surgical interventions for management of corneal opacification in children is further compromised by the pre-existing amblyopia apart from the concerns of refractive outcome of the graft. Graft rejection, graft infection, amblyopia, and glaucoma continue to be serious concerns. In recent years both anterior and posterior lamellar keratoplasty techniques are being increasingly performed in pediatric eyes, which offer advantages in the form of lower risk of graft rejection. The timing of surgery, careful case selection, cautious intraoperative approach, and optimal postoperative management can improve the anatomical and functional outcome in difficult cases.

Current Perspectives on Corneal Transplantation (Part 2)

Disease of the cornea is the third leading cause of blindness worldwide. Corneal graft surgery is one of the most successful forms of solid organ transplantations in humans, with ever increasing developments in surgical technique. To date, approximately 4504 corneal transplants are performed in the UK each year. While full thickness transplantation was the most commonly performed keratoplasty over the last few decades, selective lamellar transplantation of the diseased layers of the cornea has been universally adopted. This comprehensive review aims to provide an updated synthesis on different types of corneal transplantations, their treatment outcomes, and the associated complications of each procedure both in adult and pediatric populations. In addition, we also present an up-to-date summary of the emerging therapeutic approaches that have the potential to reduce the demand for donor-dependent keratoplasty.

Possible association between viral infection and poor survival of the corneal graft after penetrating keratoplasty in patients with congenital corneal opacity: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Congenital corneal opacity (CCO) is a rare disorder. Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) is the main surgical option for CCO, but many factors affect graft survival. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a virological examination of CCO specimens after PK to explore the relationship between virological factors and graft survival after PK.

METHODS

This prospective study included consecutive patients (<6 months of age) diagnosed with CCO and treated with PK at Beijing Tongren Hospital from August 2017 to January 2018. Next-generation sequencing was used to detect viral DNA in the CCO specimens. The survival of the primary graft was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Overall, 24 eyes of 24 infants were treated with PK during the study period. The mean age at surgery was 4.8±1.1 months. Epstein-Barr virus DNA was detected in two specimens, varicella-zoster virus DNA in one specimen, herpes simplex virus DNA in three specimens and cytomegalovirus DNA in one specimen. In the virus-positive group, only one (14.3%) graft remained clear during follow-up. In contrast, in the virus-negative group (n=17), 13 (76.5%) grafts were still clear at the last follow-up. The mean survival of the grafts in the virus-positive group was significantly shorter than in the virus-negative group (11.0±9.8 months vs 27.1±7.7, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The presence of viral DNA in CCO specimens might be associated with poor graft survival after PK.

Post-keratoplasty Infectious Keratitis: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Management, and Outcomes

Post-keratoplasty infectious keratitis (PKIK) represents a unique clinical entity that often poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. It carries a high risk of serious complications such as graft rejection and failure, and less commonly endophthalmitis. Topical corticosteroids are often required to reduce the risk of graft rejection but their use in PKIK may act as a double-edged sword, particularly in fungal infection. The increased uptake in lamellar keratoplasty in the recent years has also led to complications such as graft-host interface infectious keratitis (IIK), which is particularly difficult to manage. The reported incidence of PKIK differs considerably across different countries, with a higher incidence observed in developing countries (9.2-11.9%) than developed countries (0.02-7.9%). Common risk factors for PKIK include the use of topical corticosteroids, suture-related problems, ocular surface diseases and previous corneal infection. PKIK after penetrating keratoplasty or (deep) anterior lamellar keratoplasty is most commonly caused by ocular surface commensals, particularly Gramme-positive bacteria, whereas PKIK after endothelial keratoplasty is usually caused by Candida spp. Empirical broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatment is the mainstay of treatment for both PKIK, though surgical interventions are required in medically refractory cases (during the acute phase) and those affected by visually significant scarring (during the late phase). In this paper, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview on PKIK, encompassing the epidemiology, risk factors, causes, management and outcomes, and to propose a treatment algorithm for systematically managing this challenging condition.

Keratoplasty for Keratoconus in Young Patients: Demographics, Clinical Features, and Post-transplant Outcomes

PURPOSE

To examine pretransplant findings and outcomes of corneal transplants for keratoconus in children.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort (national registry) study.

METHODS

Data on all patients aged 16 or younger (n = 170) who had a first transplant for keratoconus between 2003 and 2018 in all corneal transplant centers in the UK were compared to adult patients aged 17 and older (n = 7,191). The influence of demographic variables, pretransplant corneal findings, and transplant type on 2-year visual, rejection-free, and transplant survival outcomes was examined.

RESULTS

Children had poorer pretransplant visual acuity and higher rates of corneal vascularization and ocular surface disease than adults. However, 2-year post-transplant corrected visual acuity reached 20/20 or better in 35% of children compared to 28% of adults (P = .1). Transplant rejection and failure rates were 11% (P = .79) and 3% (P = .31), respectively, for children, which were comparable to rates for adults. Endothelial rejection was reported following penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in 13% of children (10% in adults). Irreversible rejection was not recorded for any transplant in a child. Despite a lack of difference in transplant outcomes, there was a significant age effect in the Cox regression model for transplant rejection, such that for every 5-year increase in age there was a 6% reduction in the hazard of rejection. Transplant survival following anterior lamellar keratoplasty and PK in children was similar.

CONCLUSIONS

Young keratoconus patients have excellent transplant outcomes and visual results comparable to adults. Overall, the hazard of rejection was found to decrease with advancing age. However, in this large cohort of young patients with keratoconus and poor vision, there is no evidence of outcome advantage in delaying transplant until adult years.

Analysis of Graft Failure After Primary Penetrating Keratoplasty in Children With Peters Anomaly

PURPOSE

To investigate the causes of graft failure and risk factors associated with total graft opacity after primary penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in children with Peters anomaly (PA).

METHODS

In this retrospective study, patients with PA (younger than 5 years) who received primary PK in Beijing Tongren Hospital were reviewed. The follow-up period was a minimum of 6 months. A modified PA classification system was used, and all failed grafts were categorized into partial and total opacity groups. Patient demographics, PA classification, operation details, degree of graft opacity, and causes of graft failure were recorded.

RESULTS

Of the 165 eyes, 54 eyes (32.7%) demonstrated graft failure along with various degrees of graft opacity. Approximately half of the grafts applied failed within 6 months postoperatively. The partial and total opacity groups did not demonstrate any significant differences regarding diagnosis distribution. Irreversible immune rejection accounted for 61.1% of all graft failures; furthermore, it had a significantly higher proportion in the partial opacity group than in the total opacity group (71.0% and 47.8%, respectively; P = 0.058). The degree of graft opacity was significantly associated with patient age at surgery (P = 0.002), preoperative corneal vascularization (P = 0.009), and iris defects (P = 0.001). However, administration of intensive topical corticosteroids could reduce the risk of total opacity in the rejected grafts.

CONCLUSIONS

Irreversible immune rejection is the most common cause of graft failure after primary PK in pediatric patients with PA. The degree of graft opacity is closely related to patient age at surgery, preoperative corneal vascularization, and iris defects.

Pediatric Keratoplasty: The Success of a Tailor-Made Surgical Management

A Romanian 5-month-old girl was referred to our hospital after being diagnosed with congenital corneal opacities. She was sent in order to undergo penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) surgery on her left eye. The patient presented a natural tendency to esotropia. We took into account two different surgical techniques: PKP and lamellar keratoplasty. The latter was technically impossible to carry out because of the full-thickness corneal opacity. We conducted several tests to accurately obtain the patient's preoperative parameters and specifically decide the details of the surgical technique to be applied. For each step of the surgical procedure we carefully compared the individual results in the literature in order to ensure a stable and lasting result. In addition to this, we used an innovative suture technique: nylon thread, interrupted suture, alternating 11-0/10-0 threads. Six months after the operation, the functional result obtained was 4–5/10, with recovery of the fixation. Pediatric PKP, therefore, cannot follow a surgical standard, but requires careful case-by-case evaluation from the pre- to the postoperative phase, with the aim of maximizing stable visual acuity.

Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty in Children

PURPOSE

To describe the outcomes of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) performed in amblyopic aged (younger than 8 years) children.

METHODS

This is a single-center retrospective study, including 11 eyes (7 congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy and 4 congenital glaucoma) of 6 children in amblyopic age undergoing DMEK by a single surgeon (N.C.P.) at Sorocaba Eye Hospital from December 2015 to November 2017. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, biomicroscopy, pachymetry, endothelial cell density, and complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

No intraoperative complications occurred. Graft detachment occurred in 1 eye (9.1%) and was successfully managed with rebubbling. No primary graft failure or pupillary block was observed. All pachymetric measurements improved, and the corneal edema clinically resolved in all eyes within 2 weeks after the procedure. At the last follow-up (mean 30 months), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was ≥20/40 in 7 (77.8%) of 9 eyes from patients cooperative enough to assess vision. All children began visual stimulation therapy and amblyopic treatment within 1 month of surgery, and all grafts remained clear until the last follow-up. The mean preoperative donor endothelial cell density was 2588 ± 236 cells/mm, which decreased to 1726 ± 292 cells/mm 2 years after surgery, yielding a 33% reduction (P < 0.001). No immunologic graft reaction, secondary graft failure, or cataracts were observed during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

In this series, DMEK was performed to successfully treat endothelial dysfunction in children. However, the procedure is more challenging, and more studies with more patients and longer follow-up are needed to confirm the superiority of DMEK in treating endothelial dysfunction in children.

[Keratoplasty in children : Indications and results]

Penetrating keratoplasty in children is associated with very specific difficulties for the surgeon as well as for the patient and the parents. Special features are specific pediatric indications, which do not occur in adults, a more difficult examination and treatment adherence depending on the parents. Diseases with a favorable prognosis include keratoconus and herpetic keratitis. Especially sclerocornea and the Peters' anomaly often have a limited prognosis regarding vision and graft survival due to secondary malformations of the eye. In addition, younger age represents a risk factor. This is most likely due to the impaired examination during follow-up and reduced compliance. For successful penetrating keratoplasty in children the timing for the operation, in which the risk for the graft is weighed up against the risk for amblyopia, is crucial.

Refractive outcome of keratoconus treated by big-bubble deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty in pediatric patients: two-year follow-up comparison between mechanical trephine and femtosecond laser assisted techniques

Background

To evaluate refractive outcome 24 months after Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) in pediatric patients by comparing results achieved using mechanical trephine and femtosecond laser.

Methods

Twenty eyes of 20 patients affected by keratoconus were evaluated. To perform big-bubble DALK, 10 eyes (Group 1; mean age 11.2 ± 2.2 years) were subjected to the Hessburg-Barron mechanical trephine and the remaining 10 eyes (Group 2; mean age 11.3 ± 3.1 years) to a 150 kHz femtosecond laser that performed mushroom incisions. Preoperative thinnest point in the corneal thickness map and K readings were measured by the Sirius Scheimpflug camera. We also evaluated corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) as logMAR value using spectacles, spherical equivalent and refractive astigmatism.

Results

Mean preoperative thinnest point and pre- and post-operative K readings did not show significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two groups. CDVA, spherical equivalent and refractive astigmatism were respectively, 0.14 ± 0.08 logMAR and 0.13 ± 0.10 logMAR (P = 0.8), − 4.2 ± 1.1 D and − 2.8 ± 1.2 D (P = 0.03), 4.4 ± 2.0 D and 3.6 ± 1.2 D (P = 0.4) in Groups 1 and 2. All DALK procedures were uneventful.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that femtosecond laser compared to mechanical trephine could significantly reduce the spherical equivalent amount in pediatric big-bubble DALK.

Indications, Clinical Outcomes, and Survival Rate of Pediatric Penetrating Keratoplasty in Suburban Malaysia: A 10-year Experience

Purpose To describe the demographics, indications, clinical outcomes and survival rate of penetrating keratoplasty in Malaysian children living in a suburban area, and discuss the literature on paediatric penetrating keratoplasty. Methodology A retrospective review of medical records was performed on children younger than 17 years of age who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from January 2008 to December 2017. We recorded demographic data, presenting visual acuity, indications, final visual acuity, and graft survival at 12 months into the postoperative period. Results Sixteen eyes of 14 children had penetrating keratoplasty. Mean age was 7.8 ± 5.9 years. Both genders were equally affected. The main indications were infective keratitis (56.25%), congenital corneal opacity (18.75%) and trauma (12.50%). There were 62.50% of patients who had a preoperative visual acuity worse than 6/60. Fifty percent had other combined procedures during the surgery, including lens aspiration, peripheral iridectomy, pupilloplasty and glaucoma tube implant. Best corrected visual acuity of 6/12 or better was achieved in 18.75% of patients. A hazy graft was noted in 68.75% of patients, and was attributed to graft rejection, glaucoma and graft failure. There was a statistically significant association between the presence of vascularized cornea, intraocular inflammation and combined surgery with survival rate of the graft at one-year postoperative period (p < 0.05). Conclusions Infective keratitis is the main indication for penetrating keratoplasty in our pediatric patients. Good visual outcome was documented in a small percentage of the patients. Amblyopia and hazy graft were the main barriers to success in this group of patients. Vascularized cornea, inflammation and combined surgery had significantly affected the survival rate of the grafts in our series.

Changing Indications in Penetrating Keratoplasty: A Systematic Review of 34 Years of Global Reporting

BACKGROUND

Penetrating keratoplasty (PK) ranks among the oldest and most common kinds of human tissue transplantation. Based on the hypothesis that reported indications for PK significantly vary between global regions and over time, the present systematic review aimed to provide a thorough overview of global PK indications as reported in peer-reviewed manuscripts.

METHODS

A literature search of PubMed and MEDLINE was conducted to retrieve articles published from January 1980 to May 2014. Indications for PK within 7 global regions were compared using a modified classification system for PK indications and analyzed via multivariate regression.

RESULTS

A total of 141 publications from 37 countries were included, recording 180 865 PK cases. Postcataract surgery edema was the predominant indication in North America (28.0%) and ranked second in Europe (20.6%), Australia (21.1%), the Middle East (13.6%), Asia (15.5%), and South America (18.6%). Keratoconus was the leading indication in Europe (24.2%), Australia (33.2%), the Middle East (32.8%), Africa (32.4%), and South America (22.8%). It ranked third in North America (14.2%). Keratitis was the primary indication in Asia (32.3%). Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy was the fourth most common indication in North America (12.9%) and Europe (10.2%) and fifth in South America (3.8%). Multivariate analysis supported these results and revealed individual regional changes over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Systematic analysis reveals characteristic chronological and regional differences in reported global PK indications. Leading reported indications for PK between 1980 and 2014 were keratoconus (Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy/aphakic bullous keratopathy (North America), and keratitis (Asia).

Indications and outcomes of keratoplasties in children during a 40-year period

PURPOSE

To report the indications and the outcomes of keratoplasties in children over four decades.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients aged 16 years or younger who underwent keratoplasty in the Helsinki University Eye Hospital during 1968-2011. Diagnosis, preoperative status, age at the time of surgery, surgical technique, complications and follow-up time were registered. Main outcome measures were visual acuity and graft survival as assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The independent role of risk factors on outcomes was evaluated by Cox multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

Forty-eight keratoplasties, 42 penetrating and six lamellar, were performed in 44 eyes of 39 children at the age of 4.5 months to 16 years (median, 12 years). Five patients had bilateral grafts, and five grafts were regrafts. The indication for keratoplasty was injury for 13 grafts, non-traumatic acquired corneal opacities for 11, keratoconus for eight, corneal dystrophy for seven, congenital corneal opacities for six and aniridia for three grafts. The cumulative proportion of clear grafts was 46% at 5 years postoperatively, and the median follow-up time of clear grafts was 5.1 years (range, 0.4-29 years) for 41 penetrating allografts (PKP). Simultaneous intraocular surgery at the time of grafting [hazard ratio (HR) 9.7], corneal vascularization (HR 8.1) and regrafting (HR 5.4) were the main independent risk factors for graft failure in this PKP cohort. The cumulative proportion of clear grafts was 84% at 5 years in the absence of any of these risk factors. PKP for keratoconus and corneal dystrophy yielded clear grafts in 83% of the eyes, and a visual acuity ≥0.3 (Snellen) in 75% of the eyes. Seventeen of the 20 graft failures were due to rejection.

CONCLUSIONS

Favourable graft survival was obtained in primary keratoplasties for non-vascularized corneal opacities performed without any other simultaneous intraocular surgery. Visual outcome was favourable in keratoconus and corneal dystrophies and poor in most eyes with injury.

Four years of corneal keratoplasty in Italian paediatric patients: indications and clinical outcomes

PURPOSE

The purpose was to evaluate indications and clinical outcomes in paediatric corneal keratoplasty.

METHODS

Fifty-four eyes of 43 patients who underwent corneal keratoplasty from the 1^st of January 2010 through the 31^st of December 2013 at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome, Italy, were retrospectively evaluated. To assess the effect of age on graft failure rate, the recipient age was considered as a dichotomous variable (≤5 or >5 years) and a 2X2 table was developed, using the chi-square test for testing the statistical significance. Furthermore, two separate subgroup analyses were conducted on patients of ≤5 years and those of >5 years, to evaluate the effect of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) on the graft failure rate. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 RESULTS: Mean recipient age was 8.9 ± 5.7 [SD] years. Mean follow-up time was 22.8 months. Main preoperative diagnoses were keratoconus (37 %) and congenital glaucoma (20 %). Patients ≤5 years showed a higher percentage of graft failure (p = 0.0008). PK and DALK did not show statistically significant differences regarding the graft failure in both subgroups (p = 0.15 for ≤5 years group and p = 0.27 for >5 years group, respectively). However, across groups DALK provided a lower rate of graft failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that children older than 5 years show a significantly better graft outcome and that DALK seems to offer greatest benefits in terms of failure risk in paediatric patients.