Resident physician operative times during cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine resident physician operative times surrounding their 45th, 86th, and 121st cataract surgery.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of 375 surgical records of 25 ophthalmology residents. Groups were compared with each other and to a published surgeon.


RESULTS
The mean operative times of surgeries 43 to 47, 84 to 88, and 119 to 123 were 39.9, 30.0, and 27.2 minutes, respectively. Surgical time decreased 25% from the 45th to the 86th case (P = .0002) and 9% from the 86th to the 121st case (P = .2049). Compared with a published surgeon's time of 26.8 minutes, residents' times were significantly longer around their 45th (P = .0001) and 86th surgery (P = .0012), but nearly identical around the 121st surgery (P = .7022).


CONCLUSIONS
Significant decreases in operative time occurred between the 45th and 86th case. Smaller decreases occurred after the 86th case. Residents' operative times approach that of a published ophthalmologist around the 121st case.
Wiggins
Michael N
MN
Jones Eye Institute Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-7199, USA. wigginsmichael@uams.edu
Warner
David B
DB
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000193:education*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors