[Contribution of the Kansas technique for reducing complications of mature cataract surgery]

We report our experience with the Kansas technique of phakosection which eliminates or limits most complications of classic manual extracapsular extraction.

This retrospective study included our first 80 patients undergoing surgery for mature cataract between May 1996 and May 1998 where we used the Kansas technique. We compared outcome with a group of 30 patients who underwent classic manual extracapsular extraction in a study performed in 1995 by the same surgeon in the same hospital.

Per- and post-operative complications were significantly lower with phakosection. Functional rehabilitation was quicker, better and provided better patient comfort.

Despite some difficulties encountered in a public hospital (viscoelastic excessively fluid and in small quantity, lack of suitable knives or reuse of sterilized disposable knives), we found that the Kansas technique is very well adapted to mature cataracts and our working conditions.

Phakosection allowed us to give our patients with mature or very mature cataracts the benefit of small incisions. With a moderate increase in cost, this technique significantly reduced our per- and post-operative complication rates and gave quicker and better visual recovery. In our countries, this technique provides better care than phakoemulsification.