Antibiotic choice for the prophylaxis of post-cataract extraction endophthalmitis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the 8-year incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery and to determine which surgical practices were associated with higher rates of endophthalmitis. DESIGN: Case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 75 318 eyes undergoing cataract extractions, performed by 26 different surgeons at 4 public hospitals and 5 nonhospital surgical facilities. METHODS: Cases of endophthalmitis were acquired using a detailed, prospectively designed demographic database. Controls were tabulated using volume data available from the provincial health care system. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the development of endophthalmitis. RESULTS: A total of 23 cases (13 with culture-positive results) of postoperative endophthalmitis occurred, yielding an overall 8-year incidence of 0.03%. The incidence of endophthalmitis varied between surgeons from 0% to 0.20%. Two surgeons had higher rates than the rest of the group: 1 high-volume surgeon (1059.4±231.9 mean cases per year) with an incidence of 0.08% (n = 7; P = 0.004) and 1 low-volume surgeon (123.5±44.8 mean cases per year) with an incidence of 0.20% (n = 2; P = 0.002). On univariate analysis, the rate of endophthalmitis was not influenced by the use of intracameral (0.898) or subconjunctival antibiotics (0.331), whereas the use of moxifloxacin was associated with a lower rate of endophthalmitis (P = 0.029). Surgery at 1 private facility (P = 0.046) and the use of timolol at the end of the procedure (P = 0.007) were associated with a higher rate of endophthalmitis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the odds of endophthalmitis was lower if a second-generation (P = 0.02) or fourth-generation (P = 0.008) fluoroquinolone antibiotic was used after surgery. In contrast, the odds of endophthalmitis occurring was higher if timolol (P = 0.0002) was used at the end of the procedure or if the surgery was performed at one of the private facilities (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of endophthalmitis was lower if a fluoroquinolone was used after surgery. In contrast, endophthalmitis was more likely to occur if timolol was used at the end of the procedure or if surgery was performed at one of the private facilities.

Trephination for canalicular obstruction: experience in 45 eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate efficacy of a trephination procedure for resolution of primary canalicular obstruction or obstruction secondary to failed dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). METHODS: Retrospective review of patients in a single surgeon's practice who underwent trephination with Crawford tube insertion between 2001 and 2011, with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. Indications for surgery included symptomatic patients either with primary canalicular obstruction or secondary obstruction after a failed DCR. RESULTS: Trephination was carried out on 45 eyes of 43 patients; 78% were female, and average age at trephination was 61.0 years (range 32 to 89). Thirty-two eyes had previous DCR (75% endonasal, 25% external); mean interval of trephination after DCR was 1.4 years (range 0.3-9.1). Crawford stent tubes were left in-situ in 2 patients; in the remainder, tubes were removed at a mean interval of 5.6 months (range 0.3-20.6). The vast majority of presenting canalicular obstructions were in the common canalicus (73%). Sixteen eyes (36%) underwent a single trephination, and 29 eyes (64%) required repeat intervention; of these, 16 eyes had DCR (3 endonasal, 13 external) and 13 eyes had either repeat trephination with stenting (10 eyes) or repeat stenting alone (3 eyes). When separated into those with primary versus secondary obstruction, re-operation rate was similar in both groups (63% versus 69%). No patients developed complications after trephination. CONCLUSIONS: Trephination is a simple and effective intervention for canalicular obstruction that allowed 64% of patients, through one or two procedures, to avoid the morbidity of DCR.