Nurse anaesthetic care during cataract surgery: a comparative quality assurance study.
BACKGROUND
We studied whether a new model of nurse-provision of conscious sedation for cataract surgery maintained patient satisfaction and safety.


METHODS
We prospectively and non-randomly studied 106 patients who had outpatient cataract surgery on a day when an anaesthetist was present at the UBC, Vancouver Hospital Eye Care Centre, and 105 patients with no anaesthetist, but instead a surgical suite nurse trained to give conscious sedation was present. Questionnaires determined patient perception of well-being, pain, and anxiety before surgery, before discharge, at 48 hours and at 6 weeks postoperative. Hospital records and a surgeon questionnaire were used to determine complications. Ophthalmology records were used to determine visual acuity (preoperative and at 6 weeks).


RESULTS
No anaesthetic complications were reported in either group and there were no significant differences in surgical complications. Patient responses to assessments of discomfort, well-being, and anxiety, preoperatively and postoperatively, were very similar on the nurse days and anaesthetist days.


CONCLUSIONS
Conscious sedation of cataract surgery patients can be safely and effectively provided by a trained nurse for selected patients. This nursing role is likely replicable in similar operating room settings.
Bassett
Ken
K
British Columbia Centre for Epidemiologic and International Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. bassett@chspr.ubc.ca
Smith
Stuart W
SW
Cardiff
Karen
K
Bergman
Kathy
K
Aghajanian
Jaafar
J
Somogyi
Eva
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000451:nursing* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists / Q000592:standards*; D010045:Outpatients; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires