Outsourced cataract surgery and postoperative endophthalmitis.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health

Background:

• Postoperative endophthalmitis (PE) is a serious complication following cataract surgery.
• Monitoring PE risk is crucial for ensuring patient safety and surgical quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare PE risk between public and private eye facilities in Denmark.
• To assess the reliability of the Danish National Patient Registry (NPR) for tracking PE risk.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of PE cases identified through the NPR and chart reviews.
• Inclusion of cataract surgeries performed between 2002 and 2010.
• Comparison of PE rates across public hospitals and private clinics.

Main Results:

• PE risk was 0.36 per 1000 in public hospitals versus 0.73 per 1000 in private facilities.
• Significant heterogeneity in PE risk was observed among private hospitals (p=0.0001).
• Public hospitals had 98% registration in NPR, while private facilities had only 38%.

Conclusions:

• Certain private clinics exhibited a significantly higher PE risk than public hospitals.
• Incomplete NPR registration by private facilities hinders accurate PE risk monitoring.
• Enhanced surveillance of private cataract surgery is recommended to improve quality and reduce complications.