title: Complications in resident-performed phacoemulsification cataract surgery at New Jersey Medical School.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the complications related to cataract surgery performed by phacoemulsification technique by third-year ophthalmology residents at New Jersey Medical School, who are trained to perform phacoemulsification without any prior experience with extracapsular extraction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, observational case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of 755 patients who underwent cataract surgery by third-year residents between July 2000 and June 2005 at the Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science was performed. Details of intraoperative complications (posterior capsular rupture, vitreous loss, subluxation of lens fragments into the vitreous, extracapsular cases converted to phacoemulsification, retinal detachment, vitreous haemorrhage and haemorrhagic choroidals) of the cases done by phacoemulsification technique were recorded. Results were analysed and compared with complication rates reported from other residency programmes and from experienced ophthalmologists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 755 cataract surgeries, 719 were performed using phacoemulsification technique. Posterior capsule disruption occurred in 48 (6.7%), vitreous loss in 39 (5.4%) and dislocated lenticular fragments in 7 (1.0%) of 719 cases that underwent phacoemulsification technique. Subsequent pars plana lensectomy was required in 5 (0.7%) cases; 1 case (0.1%) experienced retinal detachment and haemorrhagic choroidal detachment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The residents can perform phacoemulsification well with a very low complication rate, without prior training with extracapsular cataract extraction technique.
authors: The Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, New Jersey Medical School, Doctors Office Center, Suite 6168, 90 Bergen Street, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. Bhagatne@umdnj.edu
authors: Neelakshi
authors: N
authors: Bhagat
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Nissirios
authors: Lindsay
authors: L
authors: Potdevin
authors: Jacob
authors: J
authors: Chung
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Lama
authors: Marco A
authors: MA
authors: Zarbin
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Fechtner
authors: Suquin
authors: S
authors: Guo
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Chu
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Langer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007396:Internship and Residency; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000379:methods; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012577:Schools, Medical