title: Complication rate and risk factors for intraoperative complications in resident-performed phacoemulsification surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the complication rate and risk factors for intraoperative complications in resident-performed phacoemulsification surgery at a tertiary care center during the first 100 surgeries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of the first 100 performed phacoemulsification cases of six consecutive residents. Posterior capsule tear, vitreous loss, and dislocation of lenticular fragments into the vitreous were defined as intraoperative complications. Patient characteristics considered risk factors for surgery were identified and correlated with the occurrence of intraoperative complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complications occurred in 23 of 600 operations (3.8 %). Surgery was complicated by posterior capsular tear in 23 eyes (3.8 %) with vitreous loss in 17 eyes (2.8 %) and loss of lenticular fragments into the vitreous in seven eyes (1.2 %). Eyes with dense nuclear sclerosis (p = 0.002) and white cataracts (p = 0.019) were associated with a statistically significantly greater incidence of posterior capsular tears and vitreous loss (p = 0.007 and p = 0.027 respectively). An intraocular lens was implanted in 591 eyes as intended.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Residents achieve an acceptable complication rate during their initial 100 phacoemulsification cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Centre, Regensburg, Germany. andrea_briszi@yahoo.de.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Briszi
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prahs
authors.forename: Jost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hillenkamp
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Helbig
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herrmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D059032:Learning Curve; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007906:Lens Subluxation / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000193:education; D057852:Posterior Capsule of the Lens / Q000293:injuries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology