Anaesthesia for cataract surgery. A preliminary communication.
It is well recognized that patients presenting for cataract surgery are usually old, with a high incidence of medical disease. This combination is said greatly to increase the risk of general anaesthesia. In an unselected series of patients undergoing cataract surgery, 53.5% had a significant medical problem and 50% were receiving some form of medical treatment. All but three of the patients were given a general anaesthetic. The series is discussed against the background of anaesthetic morbidity. The authors recommend that routine electrocardiograms should be carried out on all patients over 60 years of age.
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged