Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate whether an ophthalmology educational initiative directed toward anesthesia providers can decrease the incidence of perioperative corneal injury at an academic medical center.
Methods:
Prospective chart review of consults placed for perioperative eye pain resulting from corneal injury between July 1, 2011 and January 4, 2012 (including patient and surgical risk factors for corneal injury as reported in the literature). An ophthalmology educational initiative, including a Grand Rounds lecture and distribution of educational materials regarding perioperative ocular care, was provided to anesthesia providers on January 5, 2012 based on the Mayo Clinic Model (Martin et al., Anesthesiology 2009). Beginning on January 5, 2012, an email was sent to the attending and resident physician of any patient who experienced a perioperative corneal injury; the email notified the physicians of the corneal injury and provided information to the physicians on how such injuries may be prevented in the future. Prospective chart review of consults (identical to the pre-initiative data collection) was then performed between January 6, 2012 through June 30, 2012. The rates of perioperative corneal injury pre- versus post-initiative were compared.
Results:
The rate of perioperative corneal injury was 0.35% before the educational initiative compared with 0.18% following the initiative (p=0.04). The proportions of corneal injuries that were associated with risk factors reported in the literature for such injuries were not significantly different pre- versus post-initiative except for length of surgical case. Pre-initiative a higher proportion of corneal injuries occurred after a surgery <90 minutes in duration compared to post-initiative.
Conclusions:
An ophthalmology educational initiative directed toward anesthesia providers was associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of perioperative corneal injury. This information may be helpful for other medical centers in order to emphasize the potential impact of educational initiatives to prevent perioperative corneal injury.
Keywords: 482 cornea: epithelium •
479 cornea: clinical science •
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