Posters

Effect of ocular risk factors on surgical outcomes of cataract surgery performed by novice surgeons

Poster Details

First Author: S.Luceri ITALY

Co Author(s):    E. Abed   G. Alivernini   M. Riso   M. Nicoletti           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To assess if preoperative ocular risk factors and comorbidities can impact on surgical outcome by increasing rates of intraoperative and/or postoperative complications of cataract phacoemulsification and IOL implantation performed by ophthalmic surgeons in their learning curve.

Setting:

AUSL Bologna - “A. Pizzardi” Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, Italy

Methods:

Medical reports of 580 eyes who underwent primary cataract surgery between October 2015 and January 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with history of glaucoma, presence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome, shallow anterior chamber, intraoperative floppy iris syndrome, poor intraoperative mydriasis (<6 mm), high hyperopia (spherical equivalent, SpE ≥ 2.5 D) and myopia (SpE ≤ -6 D) and patients without any of these risk factors were divided in Group A and Group B, respectively, and compared. All surgical procedures were performed by surgeons (A.E, A.G., L.S. and R.M.) within their learning curve (first 250 cases).

Results:

Our study population included patients with glaucoma (11.4%), pseudoexfoliation syndrome (9%), shallow anterior chamber (2.9%), intraoperative floppy iris syndrome (7.9%), poor intraoperative mydriasis(11.7%), high hyperopia (10.9%) and myopia (4.1%); 58.4% had no surgical risk factors. The rate of posterior capsular tear with or without vitreous loss was 2.7% in group A and 1.7% in group B (p=0.57). Postoperative complications included 1 retinal detachment, 1 retained lens fragment, 1 vitreous hemorrhage, 1 iris prolapse into corneal tunnel, 1 IOL sublussation. None of the examined risk factors was associated with a statistically significant increase of intraoperative or postoperative complications.

Conclusions:

Cataract surgery performed by novice surgeons is safe, with a surgical rate of complications not higher than others previously reported. The presence of preoperative risk factors is not statistically related to an increase rate of complications, even when those factors are associated.

Financial Disclosure:

None