After death of a person, how long cornea can be preserved?

Appeared in: NORCET -6 Prelims

Explanation

The ideal time for corneal retrieval after death is within 6 hours to ensure the viability of the corneal tissue for transplantation.
The cornea is an avascular tissue, and its endothelial cells, which are crucial for maintaining clarity, begin to degrade rapidly after circulation stops.
Retrieval within this 'golden period' maximizes the chances of a successful transplant. This timeframe is a standard guideline followed by eye banks.
While the time may be extended with immediate refrigeration of the body, 6 hours is the standard optimal window without such measures.

Option A: This timeframe is generally too long. By 12 hours, significant degradation of the corneal endothelial cells has likely occurred, reducing the chances of a successful transplant.
Option B: While better than 12 hours, 8 hours is still outside the recommended 'golden period' of 6 hours, increasing the risk of poor tissue quality.
Option D: While retrieving the cornea within 2 hours is excellent for viability, the question asks for the general preservation time. The standard window extends up to 6 hours.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Post-mortem care and organ donation procedures, specifically corneal retrieval time as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are often the first to identify a potential organ donor and are responsible for initiating crucial preservation steps, making knowledge of this 6-hour window essential for patient advocacy and successful donation outcomes.
Timely communication with the family and the local eye bank is critical. A nurse's prompt action can make the difference between a successful donation and a missed opportunity to restore someone's sight.
What if? If the deceased had a known systemic infection like sepsis or HIV, eye donation is an absolute contraindication, regardless of the time of death, due to the risk of disease transmission.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: It's asking for a specific, standard time limit related to organ donation.
Recognize this as a factual recall question based on established medical and nursing protocols.
Recall the 'golden period' for corneal harvesting. This is a common topic in community health and fundamental nursing.
Evaluate the options based on tissue viability. The cornea is a sensitive tissue that degrades after death. Shorter times are better, but there is a standard maximum window.
Eliminate the extremes: 2 hours is too short for a standard limit, while 12 hours is too long without special measures. 6 hours is the most common and accepted guideline.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Post-mortem care and organ donation procedures, specifically corneal retrieval time.
Stem keywords: after death, cornea, preserved
Lead-in keywords: how long

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E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 2 Part 1 p. 116-118

Practise the full NORCET -6 Prelims

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.