Reoperations After Cataract Surgery: Is the Incidence Predictable Through a Risk Factor Stratification System?

Topical and subconjunctival anesthesia versus topical anesthesia alone in patients with senile cataracts undergoing phacoemulsification: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

This study compared topical anesthesia to a combination of topical anesthesia and subconjunctival anesthesia for phacoemulsification.

METHODS

This double-blinded parallel placebo-controlled randomized trial involved senile cataract patients scheduled for phacoemulsification between May and December 2022. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either topical anesthesia with 0.5% tetracaine hydrochloride and subconjunctival balanced salt solution injection (Control group) or topical anesthesia and subconjunctival injection with 2% lidocaine (Lidocaine group). Baseline parameters, cataract grades, and various outcomes were recorded, including pain scores at specific time points, patient cooperation scores, requests for additional anesthesia, and complications. Statistical methods included Fisher's exact test, the t-test, ordinal logistic regression, and linear regression with robust standard errors.

RESULTS

In total, 176 patients were included in the study after excluding 33 patients. A significant reduction in immediate postoperative pain was achieved in the Lidocaine group (p < 0.001) and was maintained for 2 h (p = 0.011). Additionally, better cooperation was observed in this group (p = 0.038). However, patients in the Lidocaine group experienced more pain during the subconjunctival injection (p = 0.001) and a significant increase in subconjunctival hemorrhage related to the injection (p < 0.001). Despite this, the rates of surgical complications were comparable between the groups, and all phacoemulsification procedures were successfully completed using the assigned anesthetic technique.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of subconjunctival lidocaine injection to topical anesthesia reduced postoperative pain and improved patient cooperation during phacoemulsification. However, the lidocaine injection was painful, and it carried a higher risk of spontaneous-relief subconjunctival hemorrhage.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Trial Registration Number: TCTR20220804003, date of registration August 4, 2022, retrospectively registered.

When should cataract surgeons seek assistance from experienced colleagues?

PURPOSE

To assess which cases should be assorted exclusively to high-volume surgeons and identify when should a cataract surgeon seek assistance from a senior colleague.

METHODS

The medical records of 2853 patients with age-related cataract were reviewed. Preoperative risk factors were documented for each case, and they were divided into surgeons who had more (> 400 surgeries/year) or less experience (< 400 surgeries/year). Ophthalmology residents were excluded from this review. The cases that involved posterior capsule rupture, dropped nucleus, zonular dehiscence and anterior capsular tear with or without vitreous loss were defined as "complicated".

RESULTS

From the 3247 cataract extraction surgeries that were reviewed, we were unable to identify any statistically significant difference in the complication rates between the two surgeon groups. In the stepwise regression analysis, both groups supported advanced age (> 85) and mature cataracts with up to fourfold odds ratios (OR). Low-volume surgeons had a fivefold OR in the presence of phacodonesis and a fourfold OR in the case of posterior polar cataract. Finally, the low- and high-volume groups had their highest complication rates in the cumulative four and five risk factors, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In the presence of advanced age, mature cataracts, phacodonesis and posterior polar cataract, the complication rates appear to be higher for the less experienced surgeons. Meticulous preoperative assessment with detailed documentation of each patient's risk factors can result in fewer complications. The medical complexity of each case can be used as indicator of whether a more experienced surgeon should perform the surgery or not.