Talk:Toxic anterior segment syndrome

Latest comment: 16 years ago by WhatamIdoing in topic Removed material

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I removed this: More information can be found by searching the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery website. Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome Outbreak Preliminary Report



• The preoperative use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) may be a potential factor in several of the cases reported to date.

• The use of intracameral anesthetics is a potential factor, especially given the short ultrasound time in the majority of the cases with the possibility of ophthalmic visco surgical devices (OVD) potentiating the length of time that the anesthetic can remain in the anterior chamber of the eye.

• The issue of epinephrine added to BSS solutions to maintain pupilary dilation during the phacoemulsification is also a potential problem. The epinephrine must be truly preservative free. Epinephrine solutions which have stabilizing agents such as bisulphites are still not considered preservative free and bisulphite is potentially toxic to the corneal endothelium and the structures of the anterior segment of the eye.

• Intracameral antibiotics, if improperly dosed, mixed, or injected into the eye are another potential source of toxic inflammation.

• Reusable cannulas may allow a residue of OVD, cortex, or other materials which can be toxic when injected into the anterior chamber. It should be noted that residual viscoelastic can retain enzymatic detergents and ultrasonic cleaners.

• The majority of IOLs reported were Alcon lenses. However, given the large market share of Alcon, it is unclear whether or not this represents a larger than expected relationship of one particular IOL manufacturer to the TASS cases. Furthermore, there may be an issue involved regarding the cleaning of the reusable inserter which is used with a disposable cartridge to place the lens.

• Reusable ultrasound and irrigation/aspiration hand pieces and tips are a potential source of TASS. There have been several centers which have reported “occluded” I/A tips which raises the issue of proper flushing of hand pieces and tips between cases. This may allow a buildup of OVD, cortex, and other materials on the inside of phacoemulsification or I/A hand pieces and tips that could cause toxicity.

• Instrument cleaning between cases including the use of ultrasound baths, enzymes, and detergents are a potentially related issue if these materials are not properly flushed from instruments, cannulas, and hand pieces. Note: Rinsing in sterile deionized water is important

• There is an ongoing issue regarding the cleaning of ultrasound water baths in order to prevent contamination with gram-negative bacteria and subsequent endotoxin contamination of instruments which is heat stable and can cause TASS even after proper autoclaving of instruments. An alcohol rinse will remove endotoxin.

This analysis is ongoing and centers which have reported cases of TASS but have not filled out questionnaires are being contacted in order to provide more complete data related to the TASS cases associated with this outbreak. Follow up of 53 of the 114 centers that have reported cases of TASS directly to a single manufacturer has shown that 41 of the centers have not had any further cases as of the first week of June, 2006. An additional 12 centers have had more cases since their initial reports in April. The TASS Adhoc Task Force will continue to analyze the cases involved in this particular outbreak and continue to evaluate possible sources of TASS and subsequently formulate recommendations on prevention of this problem.

because it looks like it was copied directly from another source. If you are confident that it violates no copyrights and want to re-write it to be appropriate for an encyclopedia, then please feel free to do so. WhatamIdoing 00:17, 3 December 2007 (UTC)Reply