Although bilateral nasal cannula oxygen supplementation is commonly used during cataract surgery, there is little need for this technique. During eye surgery, drapes are sealed around the eye and cover the patient. The drapes are impenetrable and confine gases completely.
This technique involves using a special breathing device called Optiflow (continuous high flow oxygen therapy). Optiflow is a special system for delivering high flow rates of heated, humidified, oxygen to patients who are short of breath.
Insufflation of O2 and aspiration of expired air with a suction system have prevented severe reduction of SpO2 and raising of EtCO2. It was suggested that O2 delivery and use of an aspiration system decreased the risk of hypoxaemia significantly in the patients undergoing the cataract surgery.
Cataract surgery is performed almost exclusively as an outpatient procedure. It usually involves the administration of a local anesthetic in addition to systemic sedation administered by an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist.
Oxygen is routinely given to patients during and after surgery. Perioperative oxygen administration has been proposed as a potential strategy to prevent and treat hypoxaemia and reduce complications, such as surgical site infections, pulmonary complications and mortality.
Oxygen accounts for 21% of room air. But for patients under general anesthesia, in air delivered to lungs by mechanical ventilation, anesthesiologists administer oxygen concentrations far in excess of 21%. Depending on the patient and the procedure, 40 to 100% might figure as a typical range.
During the procedure
Once you're asleep, the anesthesiologist or CRNA may insert a flexible, plastic breathing tube into your mouth and down your windpipe. The tube ensures that you get enough oxygen.
Anesthesia typically wears off after an hour or two, and you can go back home soon afterward.
Practice Breathing
Practice deep, even breathing before cataract surgery so you can remain calm and relaxed. Count as you breathe in, hold, and breathe out, and aim to count to the same number each time. You can also easily find tutorials for calming breathing exercises online.
Cataract surgery is a straightforward procedure that usually takes 30 to 45 minutes. It's often carried out as day surgery under local anaesthetic and you should be able to go home on the same day.
Various drapes will be placed over your face and shoulders to keep the operation area clean. You can still breathe normally. You will need to keep still and not talk during the surgery.
During surgery, your eye doctor will remove the cloudy lens from your eye and replace it with an artificial lens (called an intraocular lens, or IOL). The surgery lasts about 1 hour and is almost painless.
Typically, patients are awake during cataract surgery. This eliminates risks associated with general anesthesia (where you are “put to sleep”) and enables our doctors to communicate with you during your procedure. You will be given an oral medication prior to the procedure to help you relax during your surgery.
When the eye is completely numb, an instrument will be used to hold your eye open while the procedure is completed. This instrument ensures that you will not blink during cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is one of the safest, most successful surgeries involving the eye.
You must inform the operating surgeon if you have a cough. If you can control your cough, surgery can proceed, but you must let the staff know if you need to cough so that the surgery can be paused if necessary.
A blue drape is put over your face. It will not cover your nose or mouth - you can breathe normally. You should not feel any pain during your operation. You will be aware of the surgeon resting his hand on your forehead.
Older studies indicate that 33% of patients report their fear and 32% experience increased emotional tension prior to first-eye cataract surgery. The main cause of these emotions is the fear of surgery, such as the fear that the procedure will be painful, fear of failure, and possible deterioration or loss of vision.
During surgery, we use a local anesthetic to numb your eye so you won't feel anything during the procedure. You'll be awake during surgery, but you won't be able to see what's happening in your eye.
Here are some things that you may want to avoid before and after cataract surgery to ensure that you heal properly. Avoiding eating and drinking before your surgery. Don't wear makeup to the surgery appointment, and avoid wearing makeup until your ophthalmologist allows it so that you can better prevent infection.
With the day of surgery excepted, no bed rest is required. Most patients can return to normal activities the following day. That being said, be sure to avoid the following until the eye doctor gives the okay.
Don't: Eat or Drink Right Before the Surgery
While under sedation, there is a chance of stomach acid going into your lungs, which can cause damage. You will need to fast for about 12 hours before surgery to ensure you are safe from this effect.
Most people see better 1 to 3 days after surgery. But it could take 3 to 10 weeks to get the full benefits of surgery and to see as clearly as possible. Your doctor may send you home with a bandage, patch, or clear shield on your eye. This will keep you from rubbing your eye.
Surgical areas are oxygen-enriched environments and especially susceptible to fires due to the use of supplemental oxygen and nitrous oxide. In this environment, materials that do not ordinarily burn in air may ignite, and those that do burn in air will burn hotter and faster.
Do you stop breathing during general anesthesia? No. After you're unconscious, your anesthesiologist places a breathing tube in your mouth and nose to make sure you maintain proper breathing during the procedure.
Oxygenation delivered 1 min before endoscopic sedation prevented hypoxia, resulting in no cases of hypoxia in that group. Therefore, oxygenation provided 1 min before the procedure may be the best way to prevent hypoxia in patients aged 65 years or older.