Patients' perception of the open-space operating hall for cataract surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Innovation
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Traditional operating rooms are enclosed spaces.
• Open-space operating halls are a newer concept in surgical environments.
• Assessing patient comfort is crucial for adopting new surgical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient perceptions of cataract surgery performed in an open-space operating hall.
• To determine if the open-space environment affects patient comfort during topical anesthesia procedures.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 250 patients undergoing cataract surgery.
• Surgery performed in a newly built open-space operating hall under topical anesthesia.
• Face-to-face questionnaires administered to patients before discharge.

Main Results:

• 95% of patients reported no discomfort with the open-space setting.
• A significant portion of patients (47%) realized they were in an open-space hall during surgery.
• A small percentage overheard unrelated conversations (15%) or noises (6%).

Conclusions:

• Cataract surgery in an open-space setting appears well-tolerated by patients.
• The open-space environment did not negatively impact patient comfort during the procedure.
• Further research may explore patient adaptation and specific environmental factors.