Unplanned Return to the Operating Room After Cataract Surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Outcomes
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Cataract surgery is a common procedure with generally excellent outcomes.
• Unplanned returns to the operating room (OR) are an indicator of potential complications and impact patient satisfaction and healthcare costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of unplanned returns to the OR within 90 days following cataract surgery.
• To identify key preoperative and intraoperative risk factors associated with these returns.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective case-control study was conducted.
• Data from 32,480 eyes undergoing cataract surgery between 2019 and 2022 were analyzed.
• Multivariable logistic regression identified risk factors for unplanned OR returns.

Main Results:

• The rate of unplanned return to the OR was 0.54% (175 eyes).
• Retained lens fragments were the most common reason (50%).
• Complex cataract surgery (OR=1.80) and prior tamsulosin use (OR=2.00) were significant risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Complex cataract surgery and prior tamsulosin use are associated with increased odds of unplanned OR return.
• Continuous monitoring of these events is crucial for quality improvement and enhanced patient outcomes.
• Further multicenter studies and registry data are recommended for comprehensive analysis.