The effect of steep Trendelenburg positioning on intraocular pressure and visual function during robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate intraocular pressure (IOP) changes in patients undergoing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy and to evaluate complications from increased IOP. METHODS: Thirty-one eyes scheduled for robotic prostatectomy were included. Perioperative IOP measurements were performed as follows: prior to induction of anaesthesia while supine and awake (T1); immediately post-induction while supine (T2); every hour from 0 to 5 h while anaesthetised in a steep Trendelenburg position (T3-T8); prior to awakening while supine (T9); and 30 min after awakening while supine (T10). A complete ophthalmic examination including visual acuity and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFL) was performed at enrolment and 1 month postoperatively. RESULTS: Average IOP (mm Hg) for each time point was as follows: T1=18.0, T2=9.8, T3=18.9, T4=21.6, T5=22.5, T6=22.3, T7=24.2, T8=24.0, T9=15.7 and T10=17.9. The proportion of eyes with intraoperative IOP ≧30 mm Hg were as follows: T3=0%, T4=3.23%, T5=9.68%, T6=6.45%, T7=22.22%, and T8=25%. Maximum IOP was 36 mm Hg. Mean visual acuity (logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution) and RNFL showed no statistically significant difference before and after operation and no other ocular complications were found at final examination. CONCLUSIONS: While IOP increased in a time-dependent fashion in anesthaetised patients undergoing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy in a steep Trendelenburg position, visual function showed no significant change postoperatively and no complications were seen. Steep Trendelenburg positioning during time-limited procedures appears to pose little or no risk from IOP increases in patients without pre-existing ocular disease.

Ten-year follow-up of photorefractive keratectomy for myopia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term (10-year) outcome of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on myopic eyes. METHODS: This retrospective study included 42 eyes of 29 patients (13 male, 16 female; mean age 33.4 years, range 21 to 60) who were treated with myopic PRK at St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, from May 1 1995 to December 31 1998, and followed up for more than 10 years. The main outcome measures were efficacy, predictability, stability, safety, and complications. We also evaluated the progress of intraocular pressure, corneal thickness, and endothelial cell density after the surgery. The cases of retreatments were excluded from this study. RESULTS: Ten years after the surgery, 17 eyes (40%) had 20/20 vision or better, and 35 eyes (81%) had 20/40 or better. With regard to the refractive predictability, 55 percent of the eyes were within ± 1.0D and 76% were within ± 2.0D, 10 years after the surgery. There was myopic regression with a mean change in refraction of-0.51 ± 1.78D. Best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was unchanged or improved in 95%, and only two eyes lost 1 line of BCVA. The mean corneal haze score was 0.19 ± 0.40, and the decreasing rate of endothelial cell was 8.30 ± 9.94% at 10 years, which was slightly higher than the spontaneous decreasing rate with age. CONCLUSIONS: PRK is safe and effective in refraction even 10 years after surgery; however, further long-term follow-up is needed to evaluate the decreasing of endothelial cells.