Comparison of Long Micro and Continuous Phaco Pulse-Type Technology
Purpose
To evaluate pulse-type technology (long, micro, and continuous) used to remove lens fragments during cataract surgery.
Methods
Porcine lens nuclei were soaked in 10 ml of 10% neutral buffered formalin for 2 hours and placed in a 10 ml balanced salt solution for 24 hours to increase uniformity. Lenses were then cut into 2 mm x 2 mm cubes and placed into a pool of BSS within a moisture chamber, no more than 36 hours after cutting. Two aspiration and two vacuum settings were assessed: moderate flow and vacuum (30 ml/min and 300 mmHg; LoFloVac) and high flow and vacuum (50 ml/min and 500 mmHg; HiFloVac).
Results
There was a significant difference in efficiency which favored micropulse technology compared with combined long pulse and continuous pulse in HiFloVac at 80% power (p = 0.018) and between combined long pulse and continuous pulse versus micropulse in HiFloVac at 20% power 9p = 0.019). Additionally, LoFlowVac micropulse was more efficient than continuous pulse (19.7%; p < 0.0001) and long pulse ( 22.7%; p < 0.0001). Finally, continuous and long pulses were not significantly different from one another and there was a significant difference in chatter rates between HiFloVac and LoFloVac when all results were compared ( p < 0.0001).
Conclusion
Micropulse technology was preferable compared to continuous and long pulse at moderate flow (30 ml/min) and vacuum (300 mmHg), but not at high flow (50 ml/min) and vacuum (500 mmHg). Chatter events were observed infrequently at a higher setting and all modalities were more efficient than at the lower setting.