Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the feasibility of emergent ophthalmologic surgeries in an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) care setting compared to routine ophthalmologic surgeries.
Methods :
A retrospective cohort study at a single ASC included an analysis of emergent surgical cases compared to non-emergent surgical cases. The practice management database of the ASC was searched to provide all data. An emergent case is defined as any case starting after 5:00 pm or any case completed during weekend on call hours. Cases that were just delayed and ran over the 5:00 pm time were excluded. These emergent cases were then analyzed based on the type of procedure and compared to the non-emergent ophthalmologic surgeries performed at this ambulatory surgical center.
Results :
In the year 2018, 27 (34.2%) of emergent cases were started after 5:00 pm and 52 (65.8%) cases were performed during weekend call hours. This is compared to over 6113 ophthalmologic procedures done at the center in the same year during normal hours of operation. The division of total 2018 surgeries at this center was 3975 anterior segment eye surgeries, 1919 posterior segment surgeries, 211 oculoplastic surgeries, and 6 corneal surgeries. In comparison, 79 total procedures were done emergently, representing 1.29% percent of all procedures. The posterior segment procedures were 100% of the emergent cases and constituted 64 retinal detachments, 9 endophthalmitis, 2 choroidal hemorrhages, 2 vitreous hemorrhages, and 2 retained lenses. The composition of emergent cases were mostly retinal detachments, representing 81% of all emergent surgeries. No cases were refused, cancelled or transferred elsewhere for emergent treatment or for lack of access to the facility.
Conclusions :
A total of 79 cases were successfully completed after-hours or during on call weekend hours. This represents 1.29% of the total amount of cases done in the 2018 calendar year. By allowing after 5:00 pm starts during the week and weekend call hours for emergent cases, it appears the ASC setting is able to accommodate for essentially all emergent cases, with the majority of emergent cases stemming from retinal detachments.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.