To stop or to continue aspirin prior to manual small incision cataract surgery

Abstract

To ascertain whether to stop or continue aspirin before cataract surgery. Prospective observational study from July 2018 to June 2019. Information on pre-existing medical conditions like cardiac disease/stroke & use of Aspirin was obtained from patients posted for cataract surgery. Physical examination was done by physician & decided whether aspirin has to be stopped before surgery. Intra-operative and post-operative outcomes were recorded. SPSS 20.0 by using descriptive statistics i.e. only frequency and percentage. Out of 64 patients, 38 discontinued aspirin and 26 continued. In the group of patients who discontinued aspirin, 2 had bleeding complication in the form of bleeding from cut ends of conjunctiva. Where as in the group who continued aspirin 4 patients had bleeding complication. No thromboembolic events were recorded in both the groups. The risk of medical & ophthalmic events surrounding cataract surgery were so low that absolute differences in risk associated with changes in Aspirin use were minimal.