PURPOSE: To assess phacoemulsification learning curve by analysing residents' surgical completion and complication rates. METHODS: This prospective study included 226 cases of phacoemulsification performed by 11 senior residents under a single supervisor during a 27-month period. Both completion and complication rates were collected to assess their surgical results. 'Short-term completion rate (STCR)', the frequency of the surgeries completed exclusively by the residents during every five consecutive cases, was used in the evaluation of the learning curve parameter. RESULTS: These residents could complete phacoemulsification independently in 101 surgeries (44.7%). Intraoperative complications occurred in 62 cases (27.4%), of which 11 cases were complicated with vitreous loss (4.9%). By tracing different residents' individual STCRs, we found that the learning curve for phacoemulsification surgery to be of an exponential pattern, and the first STCR of 60% to be a good representation of the exponential point. Before the residents' first STCR of 60%, their average completion rate was only 16.7% and complication rate was as high as 39.2%. While after that point, the average completion rate accelerated to 76.4% and complication rate decreased to 14.2%. CONCLUSION: The learning curve of phacoemulsification is of an exponential pattern and the trainees' STCR can be a useful parameter to evaluate their surgical performance.
PURPOSE: To assess phacoemulsification learning curve by analysing residents' surgical completion and complication rates. METHODS: This prospective study included 226 cases of phacoemulsification performed by 11 senior residents under a single supervisor during a 27-month period. Both completion and complication rates were collected to assess their surgical results. 'Short-term completion rate (STCR)', the frequency of the surgeries completed exclusively by the residents during every five consecutive cases, was used in the evaluation of the learning curve parameter. RESULTS: These residents could complete phacoemulsification independently in 101 surgeries (44.7%). Intraoperative complications occurred in 62 cases (27.4%), of which 11 cases were complicated with vitreous loss (4.9%). By tracing different residents' individual STCRs, we found that the learning curve for phacoemulsification surgery to be of an exponential pattern, and the first STCR of 60% to be a good representation of the exponential point. Before the residents' first STCR of 60%, their average completion rate was only 16.7% and complication rate was as high as 39.2%. While after that point, the average completion rate accelerated to 76.4% and complication rate decreased to 14.2%. CONCLUSION: The learning curve of phacoemulsification is of an exponential pattern and the trainees' STCR can be a useful parameter to evaluate their surgical performance.
Authors: Gustavo Vedana; Filipe G Cardoso; Alexandre S Marcon; Licio E K Araújo; Matheus Zanon; Daniella C Birriel; Guilherme Watte; Albert S Jun Journal: Int J Ophthalmol Date: 2017-07-18 Impact factor: 1.779
Authors: Erika M Ellis; Jeffrey E Lee; Luke Saunders; Weldon W Haw; David B Granet; Chris W Heichel Journal: J Cataract Refract Surg Date: 2018-08-02 Impact factor: 3.351