REDUCTION OF INTRAOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS IN CATARACT SURGERY, WITH REGULATED SURGICAL TRAINING

An observational, descriptive, single-center study was carried out over a 4-year period to determine whether regulated training with simulators prior to cataract surgery modifies surgical outcomes and reduces the number of intraoperative complications.

Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Canarias (CHUC)

The Chi-square statistical technique was used to compare a group of 42 patients who had undergone cataract surgery without previous regulated training with a group of 277 patients who had undergone cataract surgery with previous regulated training, both groups being comparable and having been treated by the same surgeon.

Between 2017 and 2018, 42 patients were underwent cataract surgery without previous regulated training of the surgeon, detecting a total of 3 capsular ruptures and 1 lens dislocation to the vitreous chamber. Between 2020 and 2023, 277 patients underwent cataract surgery with previous regulated training of the surgeon, detecting a total of 0 capsular ruptures and 0 dislocations of the lens to the vitreous chamber. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.005) were found between the group treated without previous regulated training and the group treated with previous regulated training.

The study reported that regulated training prior to cataract surgery significantly improved both in statistical and clinical terms the surgical results, and significantly reduced the number of intraoperative complications. Therefore, it would be interesting to consider making practical training in the use of ophthalmologic simulators mandatory for both residents and physicians.