Study to Evaluate Stress Among Ophthalmic Surgeons with Different Levels of Surgical Experience

AIM: To assess and quantify the stress in two different groups of ophthalmic surgeons while performing cataract surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective observational institutional study. Healthy ophthalmic surgeons (4 trainee surgeons and 4 consultants) and 4 OT assistants without any history of systemic illness were studied while performing uncomplicated and uneventful cataract surgery. Resting state and post-operative (immediately after surgery) systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse rate (PR), and oxygen saturation (SPO2) were measured by a Comen C80 multi-parameter monitor. Blood cortisol levels were measured by chemiluminescent assay (CLIA) and urine catecholamines levels (adrenaline, nor-adrenaline and dopamine) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). For assessment of stress among one group, paired t-test is used and for comparison of stress levels between trainee surgeons and consultants unpaired t-test is used. RESULTS: Consultants performed phacoemulsification and trainee surgeons performed small incision cataract surgery. In both the groups, the post-operative values of SBP, DBP, PR, blood cortisol, and urine catecholamines were significantly higher than the pre-operative values. This difference was statistically significant. There was a significantly higher increase in SBP, DBP, PR, blood cortisol, urine adrenaline, and urine dopamine in trainee surgeons as compared to consultants whereas there was a significantly higher increase in urine nor-adrenaline in consultants as compared to trainee surgeons. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that every surgeon is under stress irrespective of experience though the level of stress is different among surgeons.