The Effect of Chronic Pulmonary Disease and Mechanical Ventilation on Corneal Donor Endothelial Cell Density and Transplant Suitability

To determine how chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and mechanical ventilation time affect corneal donor endothelial cell density (ECD) and transplant suitability. Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Institutional. Study Population: Total of 39 679 cornea donor eyes from SightLife Eye Bank between 2012 and 2016. Demographics, death-to-preservation time, ECD, lens status, medical history, time on mechanical ventilation, and suitability for transplantation were included. Main Outcome Measures: ECD and transplant suitability. Mean ECD was 2733 cells/mm2. Mean age was 59 years. COPD affected 34.2% of donors. Mechanical ventilation was required in 35% of donors. Mean ventilation time was 1.3 days. After controlling for covariates, COPD was not found to be associated with poor transplant suitability (P = .22). Ventilation >7 days was associated with poor transplant suitability (P = .04). Donors with COPD and donors who were mechanically ventilated exhibited lower cell counts (P 7 days (−46.5 cells/mm2, P < .001) and >30 days (−101.4 cells/mm2, P = .02). Limitations of the study included the retrospective nature, dataset obtained from a single eye bank, and medical history documentation completed by eye bank technicians. A high proportion of cornea donors have respiratory disease prior to donation. Ventilation time >7 days affected transplant suitability but the presence of COPD did not. Donors with COPD and donors who were mechanically ventilated had reduced cell counts. Longer ventilation times lead to increased cell loss. The presence of respiratory disease may affect tissue oxygenation and endothelial cell health.