PURPOSE: To study surgical debridement in the management of @entity364 in 44 @entity1 . DESIGN: A prospective randomized study. METHODS: @entity1 with presumed @entity364 were randomized into 2 groups. The first group had diagnostic corneal scraping with a Kimura spatula while the second group underwent surgical debridement utilizing a motorized drill with attached @entity11710 burr. Material obtained from both methods was plated on Sabaurauds medium, blood agar and stained for bacteria and fungi. Topical and systemic antifungal therapy was instituted, and @entity1 were examined until resolution. RESULTS: Pathogens were identified to a greater degree in the @entity146 debridement group than in the Kimura spatula group. @entity1 who had @entity146 debridement had a significant reduction in time to re-epithelialization and @entity1036 resolution (9.4 days) compared with the scraping group (17.1 days, P < 0.001). Mean uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) in the surgical group was 1.02 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) preoperatively and 0.43 logMAR postoperatively (P < 0.001). Mean UCVA in the Kimura spatula group was 1.20 logMAR before and 0.58 logMAR after scraping (P = 0.03). A single incidence of perforation occurred in the scraping group with the diagnosis of Fusarium made from the corneal button. CONCLUSIONS: @entity146 debridement and debulking of @entity364 provides a faster clinical resolution with no reduction in visual potential. The acquisition of pathogens is more accurate with surgical debridement as compared with conventional scraping. @entity146 surgical debridement of @entity1036 not only aids in diagnosis but may also be therapeutic.

XXXX Debridement Improves Outcome of @entity364 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity1036 :: ('MESH:D007634', 'Disease') :: ['keratitis'] @entity146 :: ('MESH:D001523', 'Disease') :: ['aggressive', 'Aggressive'] @entity11710 :: ('MESH:D018130', 'Chemical') :: ['diamond'] @entity364 :: ('MESH:D009181', 'Disease') :: ['fungal keratitis']
@entity146 :: (MESH:D001523,Disease) :: ['Aggressive']
