Correlation Between Sociocultural and Economic Factors in Pediatric Patients' Families and Emergence Delirium

BACKGROUND

Postoperative delirium is a commonly encountered condition that can arise from multiple factors, and its occurrence varies based on the type of surgery in pediatric patients. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of delirium during the recovery from anesthesia in children undergoing eye surgery and its association with the sociocultural and economic status of their families.

METHODS

This prospective observational study included children aged 2-12 years who underwent eye surgeries. Demographic data, socioeconomic and educational status of parents, parental separation and cooperation scores, Cravero agitation score, and face, legs, activity, cry, and consolability (FLACC) score (at zero, five, 15, and 30 minutes in the postoperative period) were recorded. Patients who scored 5 on the Cravero agitation scale for at least five minutes were considered to have postoperative delirium. The STROBE checklist was followed for reporting.

RESULTS

A total of 104 patients were included in the study, of which 65 were male. The mean age of the patients was 6.5±2.9 years, and 42 patients (40.4%) belonged to the preschool age group. The incidence of delirium was found to be 51.9%. Delirium was found to be associated with postoperative pain (p=0.003), age (p=0.001), preoperative anxiety (not cooperative examination score (p=0.047), poor separation score (p=0.006)), presence of a surgical history (p=0.012), and cataract surgery (p=0.007). No evidence was found to demonstrate a link between sociocultural and economic conditions and the development of delirium.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified several factors that influenced the occurrence of delirium, including postoperative pain (FLACC≥4), younger age (<6 years), cataract surgery, presence of surgical history, examination score (score 3, not cooperative), and separation score (scores 3-4, poor).

Comparative Incidence of Periocular Surgical Site Infections with Increased Surgical Mask Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of surgical mask use on infection rates for office-based periocular surgeries during the pandemic.

METHODS

An Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective review of medical records identified patients who had an office-based oculofacial plastic surgery procedure during the pandemic between March and December 2020. Statistical analysis was used to compare this group to patients that underwent procedures between March and December 2019, prior to the pandemic when neither surgeon nor patient wore a surgical mask.

RESULTS

The study consisted of 680 patients. Thirty-one different types of procedures were encountered. The incidence of infections in 2020 compared to 2019 was not statistically significant (1.12% (n = 3) versus 1.21% (n = 5), p = 1). All patients with infections were treated with oral antibiotics and improved without long-term complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Periocular surgical site infections are uncommon, and the wearing of surgical masks by patient and surgeon during our office-based oculofacial procedures did not change the incidence of SSIs.

Technique for modified transantral orbital decompression for improved cosmesis in stable thyroid eye disease

Functional and aesthetic rehabilitation of exophthalmos in stable thyroid eye disease (TED) can be achieved with a variety of surgical approaches. This article illustrates modifications of the classic transantral technique to provide a graded orbital decompression and achieve improved cosmesis. A retrospective chart review was performed of stable TED patients who elected to undergo the modified transantral decompression; illustrative cases are described. This modified transantral orbital decompression allows for graded orbital decompression surgery, adding to the range of treatment options for stable TED patients.

Indications and visual outcomes of intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation in a large patient series

OBJECTIVES:

To describe the indications for and visual outcomes of intrastromal corneal ring segment implantation.

METHODS:

A large retrospective case-series chart-review study was conducted using Sorocaba Ophthalmological Hospital medical records. This study included 1222 eyes (1196 patients) that were surgically treated between November 2009 and December 2012. The following preoperative data were collected: age, gender, type of medical care and funding source, surgical technique, best-corrected visual acuity, manifest sphere and cylinder refractive error, maximum and minimum central keratometry, and pachymetry measurements of the cornea at the thinnest point and at the ring channel. The postoperative best-corrected visual acuity and patient satisfaction were also determined. The cases were classified into six groups: four keratoconus groups (severe, advanced, moderate and mild), a pellucid marginal degeneration group and a post-graft irregular astigmatism group. This study was approved by the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (UTN number 1111-1182-6181, TRIAL RBR-6S72RF).

RESULTS:

The age (mean±standard deviation) of the patients was 31.0±10.0 years. The most prevalent pathology was keratoconus (1147 eyes, 93.8%). A correlation was found between ectasia severity and medical assistance (p<0.001), and the most serious cases was treated by the Brazilian public health system. No complications were found in a total of 1155 surgeries, and after surgery, 959 patients were satisfied. Among the 164 dissatisfied patients, the majority failed to show improved best-corrected visual acuity.

CONCLUSION:

Patients in the public health system underwent surgical intervention for keratoconus later than those with private sources of funding. In the vast majority of operated cases, the patients reported improvements in vision.