Nurse anaesthetic care during cataract surgery: a comparative quality assurance study.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: We studied whether a new model of nurse-provision of conscious sedation for cataract surgery maintained patient satisfaction and safety. METHODS: We prospectively and non-randomly studied 106 patients who had outpatient cataract surgery on a day when an anaesthetist was present at the UBC, Vancouver Hospital Eye Care Centre, and 105 patients with no anaesthetist, but instead a surgical suite nurse trained to give conscious sedation was present. Questionnaires determined patient perception of well-being, pain, and anxiety before surgery, before discharge, at 48 hours and at 6 weeks postoperative. Hospital records and a surgeon questionnaire were used to determine complications. Ophthalmology records were used to determine visual acuity (preoperative and at 6 weeks). RESULTS: No anaesthetic complications were reported in either group and there were no significant differences in surgical complications. Patient responses to assessments of discomfort, well-being, and anxiety, preoperatively and postoperatively, were very similar on the nurse days and anaesthetist days. INTERPRETATION: Conscious sedation of cataract surgery patients can be safely and effectively provided by a trained nurse for selected patients. This nursing role is likely replicable in similar operating room settings.

Author information

Author/s: Bassett, Ken (K); Smith, Stuart W (SW); Cardiff, Karen (K); Bergman, Kathy (K); Aghajanian, Jaafar (J); Somogyi, Eva (E);

Affiliation: British Columbia Centre for Epidemiologic and International Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. bassett(-atsign-)chspr.ubc.ca

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: Canadian journal of ophthalmology. Journal canadien d'ophtalmologie (Can J Ophthalmol), published in Canada. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Oct; vol 42 (issue 5) : pp 689-94

Dates: Created 2007/09/24; Completed 2007/12/18; Revised 2008/01/25;

PMID: 17891197, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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