[Simplified anesthesia protocol for cataract surgery under topical anesthesia: one year retrospective study]

The reduced supply of anesthesiologists in the hospital setting calls for a reconsideration of anesthesia management for ophthalmology patients. Therefore, a simplified management protocol has been designed through close collaboration between the involved specialists for cataract surgery under topical anesthesia (anesthetic eye drops or sub-Tenon's injection).

At the conclusion of the visit confirming the need for surgery, the surgeon completes a questionnaire designed to elicit a history of the presence of diabetes mellitus (type I or II), prior organ transplantation, chronic renal insufficiency requiring dialysis, communication difficulties, psychiatric disorders, allergy and/or a complex cataract. If one of the items is positive, the patient is scheduled for a preoperative anesthesia consult. If all the items are negative, this anesthesia evaluation is waived. The surgeon explains the fasting requirement and how to take the patient's usual medications on the morning of surgery. The patient continues his/her medications. No lab tests or chest X-ray are performed. If necessary, the surgeon prescribes preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis and any other preparation. During the surgery, the patient receives IV fluids and is monitored via EKG, non-invasive blood pressure and pulse oxymetry by a certified nurse anesthetist. The anesthesiologist on duty (one per every four rooms) is immediately available for the slightest problem. The surgeon signs the postoperative anesthesia note and discharge order.

This procedure was assessed by one surgeon over a one year period, including 145 patients (60% of the patients recruited for this surgery), primarily outpatient (77%) under topical anesthesia (Oxybuprocaine(®)+Visthesia(®), Zeiss) or under sub-Tenon's injection (Xylocaïne(®)). No major complications were observed. Seven cases of arterial hypertension, treated with calcium channel blockers (nicardipine), and three episodes of brief anxiety were observed.

This simplified anesthesia protocol appears to be safe and effective but requires more demanding involvement of the surgeon, whose scope of competence and responsibility must naturally increase. This is the only way by which cataract surgery can remain competitive.