Survey of Ehlers-Danlos Patients' ophthalmic surgery experiences.

BACKGROUND: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a rare disease affecting approximately 1 in 5,000 people. Although ophthalmic conditions associated with EDS have been described, little data exist concerning ophthalmic surgical outcomes experienced by EDS patients. METHODS: Patients with EDS were surveyed via the EDS Society and asked about their ophthalmic surgical experiences including procedure, complications, and the timing with respect to receiving the EDS diagnosis. Complications were confirmed as such by subspecialists. RESULTS: Of 579 respondents, 467 reported confirmed EDS, and 112 of those had an ophthalmic procedure, including refractive surgery, cataract/lens surgery, retinal surgery, strabismus surgery, oculoplastic surgery, corneal surgery, and laser surgery for glaucoma. The rate of confirmed complications was: 23%-refractive, 33%-lens/cataract, 33%-retina, 59%-strabismus, 23%- oculoplastics, 0%-cornea, and 25%-glaucoma laser. In addition, 76% of patients underwent surgery prior to the EDS diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with EDS may have elevated risk of postoperative ophthalmic surgical complications. It would seem reasonable to systemically and prospectively explore how patients with EDS respond to ophthalmic surgery. Furthermore, it would seem circumspect to ask surgical candidates patients about whether they carry a diagnosis of EDS or have signs and symptoms of EDS prior to surgery.

Classifying medial rectus muscle attachment in consecutive exotropia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate interexaminer agreement in classifying medial rectus muscle attachment in patients with consecutive exotropia. METHODS: A series of intraoperative photographs of 26 eyes in 25 patients who underwent surgery for consecutive exotropia were retrospectively studied. Two examiners independently classified the medial rectus attachment as either normal, stretched scar, slipped muscle, or lost muscle. Agreement between examiners was evaluated using the weighted kappa (κ) statistic, and causes of disagreement were assessed. RESULTS: Agreement was found in 15 of 26 eyes (58%), signifying "moderate" agreement (κ = 0.41). Approximately two-thirds of the disagreements, 7 of 11 eyes (64%), were between stretched scar and slipped muscle, with characteristics of each entity being present in the same muscle. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical distinction between stretched scar and slipped muscle appears to be obscure. We propose that they should be considered a single entity, which could be referred to as "abnormal scleral attachment."

Benchmarking the Wilmer general eye services clinics: baseline metrics for surgical and outpatient clinic volume in an educational environment.

BACKGROUND: The Wilmer General Eye Services (GES) at the Johns Hopkins Hospital is the clinic where residents provide supervised comprehensive medical and surgical care to ophthalmology patients. The clinic schedule and supervision structure allows for a progressive increase in trainee responsibility, with graduated autonomy and longitudinal continuity of care over the three years of ophthalmology residency training. This study sought to determine the number of cases the GES contributes to the resident surgical experiences. In addition, it was intended to create benchmarks for patient volumes, cataract surgery yield and room utilization as part of an educational initiative to introduce residents to metrics important for practice management. METHODS: The electronic surgical posting system database was explored to determine the numbers of cases scheduled for patients seen by residents in the GES. In addition, aggregated residents' self-reported Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) surgical logs were collected for comparison. Finally transactional databases were queried to determine clinic volumes of new and established patients. The proportion of resident surgeries (1(st) surgeon and assistant) provided by GES patients, cataract surgery yield and new patient rates were calculated. Data was collected from July 1(st), 2014 until March 31(st), 2015 for all 16 residents (6 third year, 5 second year and 5 first year). RESULTS: The percentage of cataract, oculoplastics, cornea and glaucoma surgeries in which a resident was 1(st) surgeon and the patient came from the GES was 91.3, 76.1, 65.6, and 93.9 respectively. The new patient rate was 28.1% and room utilization was 50.4%. Cataract surgery yield was 29.2 DISCUSSION: The GES provides a significant proportion of primary surgeon opportunities for the residents, and in some instances, the majority of cases. Compared to benchmarks available for private practices, the new patient rate is high while the cataract surgery yield is low. The room utilization is lower than the 85% preferred by the hospital system. These are the first benchmarks of this type for an academic resident ophthalmology practice in the United States. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that resident-hosted clinics can provide the majority of surgical opportunities for ophthalmology trainees, particulary with regard to cataract cases. However, because our study is the first academic resident practice to publish metrics of the type used in private practices, it is impossible to determine where our clinic stands compared to other training programs. Therefore, the authors strongly encourage ophthalmology training programs to explore and publish practice metrics. This will permit the creation of a benchmarking program that could be used to quantify efforts at enhancing ophthalmic resident education.

Ordenando las técnicas quirúrgicas del glaucoma / Classifying glaucoma surgical techniques

No disponible

Medical devices; ophthalmic devices; classification of the scleral plug. Final rule.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is classifying the scleral plug into class II (special controls), and exempting the scleral plugs composed of surgical grade stainless steel (with or without coating in gold, silver, or titanium) from premarket notification (510(k)) and continuing to require premarket notification (510(k)) for all other scleral plugs in order to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device. The scleral plug is a prescription device used to provide temporary closure of a scleral incision during an ophthalmic surgical procedure.

[Use of fibrin glue in ocular surgery]. / Utilização de adesivo de fibrina em cirurgias oftalmológicas.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of fibrin glue and its complications in different ophthalmic surgeries. METHODS: A retrospective and non-comparative case series study. 161 eyes were evaluated. The mean age was 51.8 years. Fibrin glue (Beriplast--Aventis Behring, Germany) was used in all patients for tissue adherence or incisional closure. RESULTS: Main preoperatives diseases were pterygium (76 patients), superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (4 patients), limbal tumor (4 patients), conjunctivochalasis (21 patients), bullous keratopathy (31 patients), limbal stem cell deficiency (7 patients), alkali injury (6 patients), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2 patients), cataract (5 patients) and glaucoma (5 patients). Complications occurred in 28 patients (17.4%). Detachment of the fixed tissue and granulomatous foreign body reaction were the main complications. Detachment occurred in 10 cases (5.6%) (7 in amniotic membrane transplantation in bullous keratopathy, 2 in autologous conjunctival grafting for pterygium surgery, 1 in autologous limbal transplantation in a Stevens-Johnson syndrome). Granulomatous foreign body reaction was described in 9 patients (5.6%) (5 in amniotic membrane transplantation due to acute alkali injury, 1 in autologous limbal graft due to chronic burn injury, and 3 in autologous conjunctival transplant due to pterygium surgery). All the complications described occurred in the first week after surgery. CONCLUSION: Despite the limitations related to the retrospective and non-comparative setting, this study suggests that the use of fibrin glue seems to be safe and effective for tissue fixation or incisional closure presenting low rates of complications in ocular surface and anterior segment surgeries.

Utilização de adesivo de fibrina em cirurgias oftalmológicas / Use of fibrin glue in ocular surgery

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as diferentes técnicas cirúrgicas oftalmológicas nas quais se pode utilizar a cola biológica e possíveis complicações relacionadas ao seu uso. MÉTODOS: Estudo de série de casos retrospectivo, não-comparativo. Foram avaliados 161 olhos de pacientes com idade média de 51,8 anos em que foi utilizada cola biológica (Beriplast P® - Aventis Behring, Alemanha) para fixação de tecido ou fechamento incisional. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 76 pacientes com pterígio, 4 com ceratoconjuntivite límbica superior, 4 com tumor limbar, 21 com conjuntivocálase, 31 com ceratopatia bolhosa, 7 com deficiência límbica, 6 com queimadura alcalina, 2 com Stevens-Johnson, 5 com catarata e 5 com glaucoma. Complicações foram relatas em 28 casos (17,4 por cento). Descolamento do tecido fixado e granuloma foram as complicações mais frequentes. Descolamento ocorreu em 10 casos (5,6 por cento) (7 em transplante de membrana amniótica em ceratopatia bolhosa, 2 em transplante de conjuntiva autólogo após exérese de pterígio, 1 após transplante de limbo autólogo por Stevens-Johnson). Granuloma ocorreu em 9 casos (5,6 por cento) (5 em pacientes com queimadura alcalina aguda tratados com transplante de membrana amniótica, 1 em paciente com sequela de queimadura tratado com transplante de limbo autólogo e 3 em pacientes após exérese de pterígio tratados com transplante de conjuntiva autólogo). Todas as complicações ocorreram dentro da primeira semana de pós-operatório. CONCLUSÃO: Embora o presente seja retrospectivo e não-comparativo, podemos observar que a utilização do adesivo de fibrina parece ser segura e efetiva, além de apresentar baixas taxas de complicações nas cirurgias de superfície ocular e de segmento anterior.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of fibrin glue and its complications in different ophthalmic surgeries. METHODS: A retrospective and non-comparative case series study. 161 eyes were evaluated. The mean age was 51.8 years. Fibrin glue (BeriplastTM - Aventis Behring, Germany) was used in all patients for tissue adherence or incisional closure. RESULTS: Main preoperatives diseases were pterygium (76 patients), superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis (4 patients), limbal tumor (4 patients), conjunctivochalasis (21 patients), bullous keratopathy (31 patients), limbal stem cell deficiency (7 patients), alkali injury (6 patients), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (2 patients), cataract (5 patients) and glaucoma (5 patients). Complications occurred in 28 patients (17.4 percent). Detachment of the fixed tissue and granulomatous foreign body reaction were the main complications. Detachment occurred in 10 cases (5.6 percent) (7 in amniotic membrane transplantation in bullous keratopathy, 2 in autologus conjunctival grafting for pterygium surgery, 1 in autologus limbal transplantation in a Stevens-Johnson syndrome). Granulomatous foreign body reaction was described in 9 patients (5.6 percent) (5 in amniotic membrane transplantation due to acute alkali injury, 1 in autologus limbal graft due to chronic burn injury, and 3 in autologus conjunctival transplant due to pterygium surgery). All the complications described occurred in the first week after surgery. CONCLUSION: Despite the limitations related to the retrospective and non-comparative setting, this study suggests that the use of fibrin glue seems to be safe and effective for tissue fixation or incisional closure presenting low rates of complications in ocular surface and anterior segment surgeries.

Ophthalmic theatre time utilization in a Nigerian teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: An audit of the utilization of the ophthalmic theatre time of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu was conducted in order to identify the main factors hindering maximum utilization of the theatre, with a view to improving efficiency and effectiveness of the operating theatre team. METHODS: Data was collected prospectively over a period of 3 months (16th May - 22nd August 2005). A total of 28 elective operation lists consisting of 47 eye surgeries was surveyed. Theatre time utilization was studied with respect to commencement and end of cases, turnover interval, start delay interval and main reasons for delays. RESULTS: A total of 57 hrs 5 mins (46.8% of total theatre time used) was spent on doing the actual surgeries and the turnover activities between cases. The total amount of time lost before the commencement of the lists was 64 hrs 50 mins (53.2% of total theatre time surveyed). Late arrival of operating theatre team personnel was noted to be the main single contributory cause of start delays, accounting for 32 hrs 35 mins of lost time. CONCLUSION: The ophthalmic theatre time at our centre is grossly underutilized and measures aimed at reducing start delays and the logistic problems would help ensure optimal utilization of time and other resources.

Avaliaçäo do número e causas de suspensäo de cirurgias oftalmológicas no Centro Cirúrgico Ambulatorial do H. C. da Unesp de Botucatu / Analisys of the number and causes of cancallatuion of oftalmological surgeries in the ambulatorial surgery ward of the Hospital das Clínicas of Unesp at Botucatu

A cirurgia ambulatorial vem aumentando muito, pelas vantagens que oferece tanto ao paciente como aos orgäos de saúde. Com objetivo de otimizar o Centro Cirúrgico Ambulatorial do Hospital das Clínicas - UNESP - Botucatu, foram estudados o número de cirurgias oftalmológicas suspensas e suas causas e também comparadas as suspensöes das cirurgias oftalmológicas com as de outras especialidades. Foram estudadas retrospectivamente as cirurgias agendadas e as realizadas de março de 1998. As ciruugias oftalmológicas foram cassificadas em 5 tipos e as causas de suspensäo foram classificadas em