Comparison of 2 Surgical Platforms for Uncomplicated Cataract Procedures: Surgical Time and Postoperative Inflammation
Purpose
To compare surgical times and postoperative inflammation for uncomplicated cataract procedures performed with the Stellaris phacoemulsification system and the previous model Millennium phacoemulsification system (both Bausch + Lomb).
Methods
This was a retrospective, 3-surgeon, single-center comparison study. Six surgery days with at least 12 uncomplicated cataract procedures each day (no LRIs, vitrectomies, or intraoperative devices) were randomly selected for each surgeon, 3 with procedures using the Millennium system and 3 with procedures using the Stellaris system 3 months later after the surgical center upgraded to the new system. The surgical technique, operating room staff, incision sizes, intraocular lenses implanted, and viscoelastic used were unchanged. The outcomes evaluated were the time for procedures performed on each machine and postoperative day 1 visual acuity (VA) and anterior chamber (AC) cells.
Results
Over the first 45 cases, surgical time decreased by an average of 0.34 min for every 10 cases operated, then plateaued. After case #45, the mean ± SEM time per surgery was 6.58 ± 0.21 min with the Stellaris machine vs 8.42 ± 0.17 min with the Millennium machine. This difference in surgical time was clinically and statistically significant (P < 0.001). On postoperative day 1, AC cells were reduced and VA was better with the Stellaris machine (P < 0.001).
Conclusion
Switching to the Stellaris machine decreased both surgical time (by 22%) and postoperative inflammation. Surgeons may increase their operating room efficiency and improve both patient flow and patient outcomes by switching from the previous model Millennium to the Stellaris phacoemulsification machine.