Two-hole assisted phaco-chop technique: a more efficient method for safe nucleofractis vertical chopping

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of the two-hole technique in augmenting the efficiency of surgeons-in-training when performing the phaco-chop technique. We hypothesized that drilling two holes in opposite angles to each other adjacent to the capsulorhexis would mimic a new lens equator. The phaco-tip and the chopper can be inserted into these holes at appropriate depths and may sandwich and fracture the lens more easily than conventional methods. METHODS: The two-hole technique described above was performed by three first-year surgeons before they performed the standard phaco-chop technique. We collected data of their first 8 cases and analyzed a total of 64 cases: 16, divide-and-conquer; 24, two-hole method; 24, phaco-chop. The main outcome measures included the cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) and case ultrasound time (UST) with different phacoemulsification techniques. RESULTS: The young practicing surgeons eventually performed the standard phaco-chop more safely after repeated practice using the two-hole method. The drilling of holes enabled deep and effortless impaling of the nucleus. Although there was no significant difference in the CDE among the techniques, there was a significant difference in the UST (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The two-hole method enabled surgeons-in-training to acquire standard phaco-chop skills more efficiently. However, further studies with higher statistical power will be needed to validate these findings. Additionally, a variation of this technique, the four-hole method, is applicable even for experienced surgeons in cases of a hardened nucleus. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10792-021-01872-4.