Mortality related to ophthalmological surgery

Prediction of the Occurrence of the Oculocardiac Reflex Based on the Assessment of Heart Rate Variability. An Observational Study

Introduction

Ophthalmic surgery is assumed to be safe, but some operations require general anaesthesia which is associated with a number of potential complications. In addition, adverse cardiovascular symptoms, such as severe slowing of the heart rate and, in some cases, cardiac arrest may occur due to the surgical technique. The aim of this study was to determine whether it is possible to predict the occurrence of oculocardiac reflex (OCR) based on heart rate variability (HRV) analysis for autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity assessment measured prior to the induction of anaesthesia and immediately before eyeball traction.

Methods

Fifty-two adults of both sexes (age range 18–65 years) with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class 1 and 2 were enrolled in this study. All patients had underwent episcleral buckling under general anaesthesia. High-frequency (HF) changes in HRV are thought to reflect parasympathetic impulse transmission, whereas low-frequency (LF) changes reflect both sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. However, in practice, LF changes can be considered to reflect sympathetic changes. Thus, the LF/HF ratio reflects the actual balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Based on that, frequency domain HRV parameters from 5-min Holter electrocardiogram recordings before anaesthesia induction and before eyeball traction were used for the analysis. The statistical analysis also included patient age, sex, ASA status and preanaesthesia and premanoeuvre heart rate and blood pressure.

Results

Data from 42 patients were analysed. Oculocardiac reflex was observed in 32 patients (76.2%). No difference was found in the analysed parameters between patients with and without oculocardiac reflex. There was no relationship between the incidence of the OCR and the analysed parameters.

Conclusion

The prediction of OCR based on initial ANS tone was not possible, and the initial heart rate, blood pressure, age, sex, and ASA status were not helpful for the identification of patients at risk of this reflex.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier no.: NCT01714362

Best practice & research clinical anesthesiology: Safety and quality in perioperative anesthesia care. Update on safety in pediatric anesthesia

Pediatric anesthesia is large part of anesthesia clinical practice. Children, parents and anesthesiologists fear anesthesia because of the risk of acute morbidity and mortality. Modern anesthesia in otherwise healthy children above 1 year of age in developed countries has become very safe due to recent advance in pharmacology, intensive education, and training as well as centralization of care. In contrast, anesthesia in these children in low-income countries is associated with a high risk of mortality due to lack of basic resources and adequate training of health care providers. Anesthesia for neonates and toddlers is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Anesthesia-related (near) critical incidents occur in 5% of anesthetic procedures and are largely dependent on the skills and up-to-date knowledge of the whole perioperative team in the specific needs for children. An investment in continuous medical education of the perioperative staff is required and international standard operating protocols for common procedures and critical situations should be defined.

Cardiac arrest during cornea transplant surgery

This paper describes a case of cardiac arrest during femtosecond laser enabled penetrating keratoplasty (FLEK) in a young, healthy patient with no known cardiac risk factors and discusses the risk of cardiac arrest during intraocular surgery. A healthy 22-year-old man who underwent repeat FLEK under general anaesthesia developed bradycardia and subsequent cardiac arrest while open sky during surgery. After resuscitation and completion of the transplant surgery, the patient recovered and the graft has survived with excellent uncorrected visual acuity over 1 year after surgery. Understanding the risks of cardiac arrest and death during intraocular surgery is imperative to discussing the systemic risks of surgery during the preoperative informed consent.

American Society of Anesthesiologists classification in cataract surgery: Results from the Ophthalmic Surgery Outcomes Data Project

PURPOSE

To explore the association of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification with cataract surgery outcomes.

SETTING

Five Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, United States.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational cohort study.

METHODS

The study analyzed the outcomes of cataract surgery cases. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), unanticipated events, and vision-related quality of life (VRQL) were assessed using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ), comparing ASA classes I through IV. For some analyses, ASA classes I and II were designated as Group A and ASA classes III and IV were designated Group B.

RESULTS

Of the 4923 cases, 875 (17.8%) were in Group A, 4032 (81.9%) were in Group B, and 16 (0.3%) had missing data. The mean CDVA and mean composite NEI-VFQ score improved after cataract surgery in both groups (P < .0001); however, Group A had a better mean postoperative CDVA and postoperative VFQ composite scores than Group B (P < .0001, both outcomes). A higher ASA class was associated with an increased risk for 2 unanticipated events; that is, clinically significant macular edema (CSME) (Group A: 4 [0.47%] versus Group B: 50 [1.28%]; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-13.05; P = 0.04) and readmission to the hospital within 30 days (2 [0.23%] versus 56 [1.41%]; OR, 8.26; 95% CI, 1.71-148.62; P = .004) CONCLUSIONS: Among United States veterans, the ASA classification could be an important predictor of VRQL and visual outcomes. In this cohort, it was associated with an increased risk for 2 serious unanticipated events-CSME and readmission to the hospital-both costly, unwanted outcomes.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Dr. Vollman is a consultant to Forsight Vision5. None of the authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Communication development in children who receive the cochlear implant younger than 12 months: risks versus benefits

BACKGROUND

The advent of universal neonatal hearing screening in some countries and the availability of screening programs for at-risk infants in other countries has facilitated earlier referral, diagnosis, and intervention for infants with hearing loss. Improvements in device technology, two decades of pediatric clinical experience, a growing recognition of the efficacy of cochlear implants for young children, and the recent change in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's age criteria to include children as young as 12 mo has led to increasing numbers of young children receiving cochlear implants. Evidence to support provision for infants younger than 12 mo is extrapolated from physiological studies, studies of children using hearing aids, and studies of children older than 12 mo of age with implants. To date, however, there are few published research findings regarding communication development in children between 6 and 12 mo of age who receive implants. The current study hypothesized that earlier implantation would lead to increased rates of language acquisition as the children were still in the critical period for their development.

METHOD

A retrospective review was completed for 19 infants (mean age at implantation, 0.88 yr; range, 0.61-1.07, SD 0.15) and 87 toddlers (mean age at implantation, 1.60 yr; range, 1.13-2.00, SD 0.24) who received the multichannel implant in Melbourne, Australia. Preimplantation audiological assessments for these children included aided and unaided audiograms, auditory brain stem response, auditory steady state response (ASSR), and otoacoustic emission and indicated profound to total bilateral hearing loss in all cases. Communication assessment included completion of the Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale and educational psychologists' cognitive and motor assessment. Computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and surgical records for all cases were reviewed. Postimplantation language assessments were reported in terms of the rate of growth over time on the language comprehension and language expression subscales of the Rossetti Infant-Toddler Language Scale.

RESULTS

Results demonstrated that cochlear implantation may be performed safely in very young children with excellent language outcomes. The mean rates of receptive (1.12) and expressive (1.01) language growth for children receiving implants before the age of 12 mo were significantly greater than the rates achieved by children receiving implants between 12 and 24 mo, and matched growth rates achieved by normally hearing peers. These preliminary results support the provision of cochlear implants for children younger than 12 mo of age within experienced pediatric implantation centers.

Incidence of Intraocular Pressure Spike and Other Adverse Events after Vitreoretinal Surgery

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence of significant postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and other adverse medical events during the first postoperative day in patients undergoing inpatient vitreoretinal surgery.

DESIGN

Noncomparative interventional case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred two consecutive patients were admitted prospectively as inpatients after vitreoretinal surgery (vitrectomy and/or scleral buckling).

METHODS

Intraocular pressure was measured preoperatively, 5 to 12 hours postoperatively, and on postoperative day 1. Additionally, pain, nausea, and serious systemic adverse events were monitored.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients (8.4%) had a 5- to 12-hour IOP measurement above 29 mmHg. Thirty patients (14.8%) had a postoperative day 1 IOP measurement above 29 mmHg. Three patients (1.5%) required a parenteral narcotic to achieve adequate analgesia. Nine patients (4.5%) utilized a parenteral antiemetic for nausea control. Six patients (3.0%) had a hyperglycemic event. No serious systemic adverse events occurred in the early postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of a significant IOP spike or systemic adverse events in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery is low.

Complications of blepharoplasty

Although blepharoplasty is a technically straightforward procedure, many postoperative complications may occur. Some of the untoward effects may be only a transient nuisance for the patient, such as mild ocular dryness, whereas other sequelae can lead to severe visual loss. An extensive review of the prevention, diagnosis, and management of complications associated with blepharoplasty is presented.

Perioperative management of the ophthalmology patient

The overall risk of eye surgery is quite low, and it can generally be performed in all but the sickest patients. Ambulatory eye surgery is becoming more and more frequent, with improvement in surgical techniques and changes in reimbursement schedules. For most patients it seems quite safe. However, there are a number of specifics, reviewed previously, regarding the eye patient with which the consulting physician should be familiar.

An update on blepharoplasty

An integral perspective of the aging eyelid is presented. A classification into three different degrees of aging is done, according to gravitation and excess skin present. The surgical techniques for third-degree aging are described, and a ten-year bibliography is presented to show the reader the interest that this anatomical region has had in the medical profession.

Chest pain in the postoperative ophthalmic patient

A retrospective analysis of the postoperative ophthalmic surgical mortality during the 20-year period ending in 1974 at the Jules Stein Eye Institute was performed. Eleven of 17,632 patients died following ophthalmic surgery (0.062%). Frequently, the cause of death was related to pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, or pneumonia. The postoperative complications were often heralded by complaints referable to the chest, and misdiagnosis was common. A simplified approach to postoperative chest pain based on location is presented.

Cryotherapy of basal cell carcinoma in oculoplastic surgery

Cryotherapy was an effective modality in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma in the eyelid and periorbital area and cured 93% of the 29 lesions in 25 patients. This method was especially advantageous in patients with blood clotting disorders; those with medical contraindications to, or who refused, classical surgery; patients who had prior radiation or surgery; patients with the basal cell nevus syndrome or xeroderma pigmentosa; and in patients with medial canthal tumors. Experimental cryotherapy in the albino rabbit showed their lacrimal system is not adversely affected by freezing in the temperature range required for tumor death.