Phacoemulsification using the burst mode.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the amount of ultrasound (US) energy required for burst mode and pulse mode during nuclear fragment emulsification.


METHODS
Instituto de la Visión, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.


METHODS
The ultrasound time (UST) and effective US power (USP) used by 2 surgeons were retrospectively compared. Nuclear fragments were emulsified using the pulse mode in 82 cases (Group 1) and the burst mode in 118 cases (Group 2). The 2 groups were divided according to nuclear hardness: 0 to 2+ (subgroups 1a and 2a) or 3+ to 4+ (subgroups 1b and 2b). The difference in nuclear hardness between Groups 1 and 2 was not statistically significant.


RESULTS
The mean UST and USP were, respectively, 1.64 minutes +/- 0.98 (SD) at 10.53% +/- 4.46% in subgroup 1a and 0.56 +/- 0.46 minutes at 10.51% +/- 5.80% in subgroup 1b. The respective means were 2.94 +/- 1.36 minutes at 15.14% +/- 4.49% in subgroup 2a and 0.75 +/- 0.52 minutes at 10.04% +/- 3.12% in subgroup 2b. The differences between subgroups were statistically significant except between subgroups 2a and 2b.


CONCLUSIONS
The burst mode increased US efficiency, especially when used for hard cataracts.
Badoza
Daniel
D
Instituto de la Visión, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. dabadoza@fibertel.com.ar
Fernández Mendy
Julio
J
Ganly
Marcela
M
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014465:Ultrasonics