title: Comparison of Different Types of Complications in the Phacoemulsification Surgery Learning Curve According to Number of Operations Performed.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the differences in intraoperative complications rates by the number of resident-performed sequential phacoemulsification surgeries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative and postoperative ophthalmological examination records and intraoperative data of 180 eyes of 140 patients who underwent cataract surgery by two residents between November 2009 and February 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. The data of 180 eyes were separated into 3 groups based on the number of operations performed: Group A (first 1-60 eyes), group B (61-120 eyes) and group C (last 121-180 eyes). The number of direct supervisor interventions and the rates of different types of complications were compared between the three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of direct supervisor interventions was 45, 35 and 19 in group A, B and C, respectively. The number of complications anterior to the iris plane was 3, 4 and 12 in group A, B and C, respectively. The difference in the rate of complications between group B and C was statistically significant (p=0.029). The number of complications posterior to the iris plane was 6, 14 and 3 in group A, B and C, respectively. The difference in the rate of complications between the groups was statistically significant (p=0.042, p=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides insight into which types of complications might arise during the phacoemulsification training period. The trends in the rates of different complication types in clinics may be analyzed, and this analysis may be used to improve and modify phacoemulsification training programmes according to the needs of residents.
authors: Okmeydanı Education and Research Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet Serhat
authors: MS
authors: Mangan
authors: Kars State Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic, Kars, Turkey.
authors: Eray
authors: E
authors: Atalay
authors: İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ceyhun
authors: C
authors: Arıcı
authors: Alfagöz Medical Center, İzmir, Turkey.
authors: İbrahim
authors: İ
authors: Tuncer
authors: Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Eskişehir, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa Değer
authors: MD
authors: Bilgeç
keywords: Cataract surgery; learning curve; phacoemulsification