The phacoemulsification learning curve: per-operative complications in the first 3000 cases of an experienced surgeon.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the per-operative complications occurring during the first 3000 phacoemulsification cases performed by an experienced consultant surgeon.


METHODS
A prospective analysis of 3000 consecutive cases performed without supervision between November 1992 and November 1998 was carried out. Data recorded for each case included details of per-operative complications, pre-operative best corrected visual acuity, nuclear density, history of previous pars plana vitrectomy, and whether phacoemulsification was performed as part of a phacotrabeculectomy procedure.


RESULTS
The overall rate of vitreous loss was 1.3%. Nuclear fragments were lost to the vitreous in 6 cases (0.2%). The initial rate of vitreous loss was 4.0% in the first 300 cases falling to 0.7% in the last 300 cases. Capsulorhexis failure was the commonest per-operative complication observed, but the risk of subsequent posterior capsule rupture fell significantly from 9 of 45 (20.0%) in the first 100 cases to 1 of 49 (2.0%) in the next 2000 cases (p = 0.0061, Fisher's exact test). There was a significant increase in risk with denser cataracts, especially for capsulorhexis failure, rising to over 35% in the densest cases. The increases in posterior capsule rupture and vitreous loss were less dramatic but nonetheless very significant. There was no significant increase in the risk of per-operative complications with phacotrabeculectomy, and no increased risk in patients who had previously undergone pars plana vitrectomy. Posterior capsule rupture occurred in 22 of 612 (3.6%) local anaesthesia cases compared with 31 of 2269 (1.4%) topical anaesthesia cases. Per-operative best corrected visual acuity of 6/9 or better was recorded in 2.0% of the first 1000 cases compared with 13.9% of the last 1000 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Per-operative surgical risks could be reduced to low levels during the learning curve, but complications continued to occur at a low frequency. (2) The risk of per-operative complications was not significantly elevated in previously vitrectomised eyes. (3) Nuclear density correlated significantly with per-operative complication risk. (4) The visual threshold for cataract surgery fell dramatically with increasing experience of phacoemulsification. (5) Topical anaesthesia was not associated with an increased risk of per-operative complications.
Martin
K R
KR
Department of Ophthalmology, West Norwich Hospital, UK. krgm2@cam.ac.uk
Burton
R L
RL
D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods; D019923:Capsulorhexis; D002832:Choroid Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014792:Visual Acuity