Learning phacoemulsification: the surgeon-in-training.
With the increasing trend towards phacoemulsification a perceived increased complication rate during the learning curve gives rise to a dilemma as to the best stage at which a surgeon-in-training can safely learn the technique. We prospectively analysed the complications and visual outcome of the first 160 phacoemulsification procedures performed by three surgeons-in-training. The main outcome measures included posterior capsule tear, vitreous and nuclear loss, surgical re-intervention rate and visual outcome. Posterior capsule tear occurred in 7 eyes (4.4%) and vitreous loss in 6 (3.8%). No nucleus was lost in the vitreous. Surgical re-intervention was required in 1 eye. Best corrected visual acuity was 6/12 or better in 88% of eyes. These results compare favourably with reports of surgeons-in-training learning extracapsular surgery and also with recently reported phacoemulsification series. This study indicates that with careful case selection and supervision phacoemulsification can be a safe procedure.
Tabandeh
H
H
St George's Hospital, London, UK.
Smeets
B
B
Teimory
M
M
Seward
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity