Resident physician operative times during cataract surgery

Abstract

Background and objective: To determine resident physician operative times surrounding their 45th, 86th, and 121st cataract surgery.

Patients and methods: Retrospective chart review of 375 surgical records of 25 ophthalmology residents. Groups were compared with each other and to a published surgeon.

Results: The mean operative times of surgeries 43 to 47, 84 to 88, and 119 to 123 were 39.9, 30.0, and 27.2 minutes, respectively. Surgical time decreased 25% from the 45th to the 86th case (P = .0002) and 9% from the 86th to the 121st case (P = .2049). Compared with a published surgeon's time of 26.8 minutes, residents' times were significantly longer around their 45th (P = .0001) and 86th surgery (P = .0012), but nearly identical around the 121st surgery (P = .7022).

Conclusion: Significant decreases in operative time occurred between the 45th and 86th case. Smaller decreases occurred after the 86th case. Residents' operative times approach that of a published ophthalmologist around the 121st case.