CONVENTIONAL ROUTINE CLINICAL REVIEW MAY NOT BE NECESSARY AFTER UNCOMPLICATED PHACOEMULSIFICATION

Citation
Bds. Allan et al., CONVENTIONAL ROUTINE CLINICAL REVIEW MAY NOT BE NECESSARY AFTER UNCOMPLICATED PHACOEMULSIFICATION, British journal of ophthalmology, 81(7), 1997, pp. 548-550
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Ophthalmology
ISSN journal
00071161
Volume
81
Issue
7
Year of publication
1997
Pages
548 - 550
Database
ISI
SICI code
0007-1161(1997)81:7<548:CRCRMN>2.0.ZU;2-#
Abstract
Aim-To determine the clinical intervention rate during routine review after uncomplicated phacoemulsification. Methods-A review of case note s in 651 consecutive cases of uncomplicated phacoemulsification from 1 994 (less than or equal to 5.5 mm self sealing wound) was performed. T he intervention rate at scheduled routine review visits and at unsched uled visits to the eye casualty service in the first 120 postoperative days was recorded. Interventions were defined as departures from pred etermined postoperative care protocols. Results-Clinical interventions were reported in 2.8% (95% confidence interval 1.5 to 4.1%) of (n = 1 652) routine follow up visits. Many of these interventions were avoida ble or trivial; 90% of patients had no postoperative intervention at a ny visit. 7.3% of patients made unscheduled visits to the emergency se rvice. The intervention rate in this group was 50% (35.9 to 64.1%). Co nclusions-The intervention rate in routine clinical review after uncom plicated modern cataract surgery is low. Alternatives to conventional postoperative review, including shared care with non-ophthalmologists and improved perioperative patient education with an open channel for self referral, should be evaluated.