Outbreak of toxic anterior segment syndrome associated with glutaraldehyde after cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To present clinical findings of a cluster of cases of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS) after uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.


METHODS
Six eyes of 6 patients developed TASS after uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery with implantation of a 3-piece acrylic IOL performed by 2 ophthalmologists on the same day. Clinical findings included corneal edema, Descemet's membrane folds, anterior chamber reaction, fibrin formation, and irregular, dilated, and unreactive pupils.


RESULTS
Glutaraldehyde 2% solution was used inadvertently by the operating room staff who cleaned and sterilized reusable ocular instruments before autoclaving. None of the affected corneas improved. Additional surgical procedures were required and included penetrating keratoplasty, trabeculectomy, and glaucoma tube implantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Glutaraldehyde in concentrations generally used for cold sterilization is highly toxic to the corneal endothelium. The operating room staff involved in sterilizing instruments should be well educated about and careful to follow the protocols to properly clean and sterilize reusable ocular instruments.
Unal
Mustafa
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Akdeniz University Medical Faculty, Antalya, Turkey. drmustafaun@hotmail.com
Yücel
Iclal
I
Akar
Yusuf
Y
Oner
Asli
A
Altin
Meryem
M
D000368:Aged; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003886:Descemet Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D005976:Glutaral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011681:Pupil Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D013577:Syndrome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D004202:Disinfectants; D005337:Fibrin; D005976:Glutaral