Time and Motion Studies to assess surgical productivity in cataract theatre lists within the National Health Service: Immediate Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery versus Delayed Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery.

BACKGROUND: To compare productivity of National Health Service cataract lists performing unilateral cataract (UC) surgery vs Immediate Sequential Bilateral Cataract Surgery (ISBCS). METHODS: Five 4-hour lists with ISBCS cases and five with UC were observed using time and motion studies (TMS). Individual tasks and timings of each staff member in theatre was recorded by two observers. All operations were performed by consultant surgeons under local anaesthesia (LA). RESULTS: Median number of eyes operated per 4-hour list was 8 (range 6-8) in the ISBCS group and 5 (5-7) in the UC group (p = 0.028). Mean total theatre time (defined as time between the entry of the first patient and the exit of the last patient from theatre) was 177.12 (SD 73.62) minutes in the ISBCS group and 139.16 (SD 47.73) minutes in the UC group (p = 0.36). Mean time to complete two consecutive unilateral cataract surgery operations was 48.71 minutes compared to 42.23 minutes for a single ISBCS case (13.30% time saved). Based on our collected TMS data, a possible 5 consecutive ISBCS cases and 1 UC (total 11 cataract surgeries) could be performed during a four-hour theatre session, with a theatre utilisation quotient of 97.20%, contrasting to nine consecutive UC, with a theatre utilisation quotient of 90.40%. DISCUSSION: Performing consecutive ISBCS cases under LA on routine cataract surgery lists can increase surgical efficiency. TMS are a useful way to investigate surgical productivity and test theoretical models for efficiency improvements.

Impact of cessation of regular cataract surgery during the COVID pandemic on the rates of posterior capsular rupture and post-operative cystoid macular oedema.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: During the COVID-19, elective cataract surgery (CS) was significantly curtailed. We investigated whether consequent reduction of micro-surgical skills practice might lead to higher operative complications. METHODS: Single-centre, electronic note review of consecutive patients undergoing CS during three periods: 1st February 2019 to 13th January 2020 (P1) prior to pandemic; 3rd June 2020 to 11th January 2021 after 1st lockdown (P2); and 25th January to 30th July 2021 (P3) after/during second lockdown. RESULTS: 2276 operations occurred during P1, 999 during P2, 846 during P3. During P1, posterior capsular rupture (PCR) rate was 1.67%, similar to P2 (1.30%, p = 0.54), but lower than P3 (3.55%, p = 0.002). There was no difference in PCR risk percentage scores between routine and PCR cases during P1 (1.90% vs 2.03%, p = 0.83), P2 (2% vs 2.18%, p = 0.18), or P3 (1.87% vs. 2.71%, p = 0.08). During P2 and P3, there was a higher rate of cystoid macular oedema (CMO) compared with P1 (4.9% and 6.86% vs. 1.93%, p = 0.0001), with no differences in proportion of diabetics or cases with CMO in combination with PCR. There was no difference in surgeons grade experiencing PCR. CONCLUSIONS: In P3 following 9 months of curtailed elective CS, PCR rates were increased across all surgeon grades, occurring in cases with similar risk percentage scores. CMO rates were increased during COVID and not related to proportion of diabetics or increased PCR rates. The reduction in elective CS during the pandemic was associated with more complications, perhaps due to attenuation of microsurgical skills.