Auckland Cataract Study III: Refining Preoperative Assessment With Cataract Risk Stratification to Reduce Intraoperative Complications.

Abstract

PURPOSE\nTo assess intraoperative complications of phacoemulsification surgery in public teaching hospital settings using modified preoperative risk stratification systems.\n\n\nDESIGN\nProspective cohort study.\n\n\nMETHODS\nPreoperative risk stratification of 500 consecutive cataract cases using the New Zealand Cataract Risk Stratification (NZCRS) scoring system. Recommended allocation of higher-risk phacoemulsification procedures to experienced surgeons in public teaching hospital setting.\n\n\nMAIN OUTCOME MEASURE\nIntraoperative complications relative to adherence to stratification recommendations.\n\n\nRESULTS\nNZCRS classified 192 cases (38%) as high-risk, recommended for fellows or consultants (attendings). Primary surgeons were residents (n\xa0= 142, 28%), fellows (n\xa0= 88, 18%), and consultants (n\xa0= 270, 54%). Overall rate (N\xa0= 500) of any intraoperative complication was 5.0%. Where NZCRS scoring recommendations were observed (n\xa0= 448) the intraoperative complication rate was 4.5% but in nonadherence cases (n\xa0= 52 residents operating on higher-risk cases) this nearly doubled (9.6%). Postoperative complications occurred in 5.2%, primarily cystoid macular edema (3.7%). Postoperatively, mean unaided visual acuity was 6/12 (20/40) and best-corrected visual\xa0acuity improved from 6/20 (20/63) preoperatively to 6/10 (20/32) postoperatively (P < .05).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThe NZCRS system aids identification of higher-risk cataract cases and appropriate case-to-surgeon allocation and may increase surgeon awareness of risk factors. Compared to 2 previous studies under similar conditions in the same institution, the NZCRS system was associated with a 40% reduction in intraoperative complications (8.4% to 5%). The rate of posterior capsular tear was 0.6% (P\xa0= .035) compared to 2.6% in baseline phase and 1.4% in a prior risk stratification phase. Risk stratification seems to reduce intraoperative phacoemulsification complications in public teaching hospital settings.