- In a retrospective study of 36,652 cataract surgery patients, nearly 90% of the surgical procedures were performed in the presence of an anesthesiologist.
- The rate of complications within 7 days after cataract surgery was lower than that of other elective, low-risk, outpatient procedures, and researchers report the presence or absence of an anesthesiologist did not influence the complication rate.
- The study findings suggest an opportunity to use anesthesia care more selectively in people undergoing cataract surgery.
A cataract forms when the usually-clear lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. Cataracts usually develop slowly over years, causing a gradual blurring of vision.
When a cataract progresses to the point that it cannot be corrected with glasses and interferes with daily activities or lifestyle, then cataract surgery may be necessary.
The most common type of cataract surgery involves a technique called phacoemulsification. The surgeon makes a small incision in the outer layer of the eye and uses ultrasound to break up the lens, which is then flushed out using fine instruments and special fluids. A clear artificial lens made of a plastic-like material is then placed inside the eye.
Most cataract operations are performed under local anesthetic, in which the patient is awake but their eye is numb.
In the United States, where more than 2 million cataract surgeries are performed each year, it is considered standard-of-care (or “best practice”) for an anesthesiologist (or nurse anesthetist) to be present during the procedure to administer light anesthesia and to manage any unexpected complications.
However, the estimated rate of complications during cataract surgery is low – between
To shed more light on this issue, Dr. Dhivya Perumal and her colleagues investigated how often anesthesiologists were present during cataract…
Read the full article here