Comparison of venturi and peristaltic based phacoemulsification efficiency in routine femtosecond laser cataract surgery.

Objective: To compare the efficiency of venturi and peristaltic pump phacoemulsification systems in patients undergoing routine laser cataract surgery.

Design: Single center, nonrandomized clinical study.

Participants: The study compared consecutive eyes with moderate nuclear sclerosis undergoing routine laser cataract surgery at the Outpatient Eye Center, Mercy Health System, Springfield, MO, USA.

Methods: Each surgery used the same femtosecond laser settings. Surgeries were performed with either a venturi or peristaltic vacuum system by a single surgeon (WJS). The EFX, percent power, ultrasound time (UST), the total time that the phaco tip was in the eye (phaco tip in/out time, PIOT), and the surgery time (speculum in/out time) were recorded. Exclusions and intraoperative complications were also analyzed.

Results: 995 eyes were included in the study. The EFX in the venturi eyes (1.7 ± 1.3; n = 521) compared to peristaltic eyes (2.1 ± 1.4; n = 474) was lower (p < 0.0001). Similarly, the UST in the eyes performed with the venturi system versus the peristaltic system was reduced (32.4 ± 22.3 s vs 40.7± 25.7 s; p < 0.0001). The PIOT in the venturi group compared to the peristaltic group was less (71.1 ± 31.1 sec vs 79.1 ± 36.1 s; p = 0.0002). The case time (speculum in/out time) was lower for the venturi eyes (307.2 ± 68.8 s vs. 311.6 ± 53.6 s; p = 0.268).

Conclusion: In eyes undergoing routine laser cataract surgery, the use of the venturi pump system was more efficient compared to the peristaltic pump system based on energy use and time, and there was no significant difference in complications.