Comparing resident cataract surgery outcomes under novice versus experienced attending supervision

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic breakdown for patient population (N=189) for novice attending

Demographic category	Value
Mean age	63.5 years
Male	45% (85/189)
Female	55% (104/189)
Left eye	51% (96/189)
Right eye	49% (93/189)

Table 2 Comparison of preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for novice and experienced attendings

Risk factors	Novice (N=189)		Experienced (N=172)		P-value
	N	%	N	%
Preoperative
4+ cataract#	3	1.6	14	8.2	0.005
White cataract	2	1.1	4	2.3	0.429
Brunescent cataract	0	0.0	1	0.6	0.475
Flomax	0	0.0	11	6.4	<0.001
Preoperative zonular dialysis	1	0.5	0	0.0	1.000
Pseudoexfoliation	0	0.0	0	0.0	–
Glaucoma risk	6	3.2	22	12.8	0.001
Post-vitrectomy	4	2.1	4	2.3	1.000
Intraoperative
Trypan blue	89	47.1	26	15.1	<0.001
Iris hooks	18	9.5	22	12.8	0.402

Notes: Bold text denotes P-values less than or equal to 0.005 as significant differences.

# 4+ on the four point scale for dense/white/brunescent cataract.

Table 3 Comparison of intraoperative complications for novice and experienced attendings

Complications	Novice (N=189)		Experienced (N=172)		P
	N	%	N	%
Vitreous loss	20	10.6	4	2.3	0.002
Anterior capsule tear	22	11.6	3	1.7	<0.001
Posterior capsule tear	1	0.5	4	2.3	0.197
Zonular dehiscence	0	0.0	0	0.0	–
Zonular dialysis	7	3.7	4	2.3	0.547
Burns	0	0.0	2	1.2	0.228
Nuclear fragments	8	4.3	1	0.6	0.038
Descemet’s tear	2	1.1	0	0.0	0.500

Note: Bold text denotes P values less than or equal to 0.005 as significant differences.

Figure 1 Complication rate versus adverse outcome rate for first 189 cases for novice attending.

Figure 2 Comparison of total complication rate for experienced versus novice attending.

Figure 3 Comparison of presence of complication for experienced versus novice attending.