Post-operative Cognitive Decline After Ambulatory Cataract Surgery in the Elderly Population
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Post-Operative Cognitive Decline in Older Adults, Post-operative Cognitive Decline, Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders, Cataract Surgery Anesthesia. Basic parameters: from 65 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Canada
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Post-operative Cognitive Decline After Ambulatory Cataract Surgery in the Elderly Population - An Observational Study.
Overview
Postoperative cognitive decline is a recognized complication following anesthesia and surgery in older adults; however, its incidence after ambulatory cataract surgery performed under sedation is not well understood. This prospective observational study aims to determine the proportion of patients aged 65 years and older who develop postoperative cognitive decline at 3 weeks and 3 months following ambulatory cataract surgery. Participants will complete a baseline Tele-Montreal Cognitive Assessment (T-MoCA) before surgery and repeat the assessment remotely at 3 weeks and 3 months after surgery. Demographic, medical, anesthetic, and procedural data will also be collected. The findings will improve understanding of postoperative cognitive outcomes in elderly patients undergoing ambulatory cataract surgery and help identify patients who may be at increased risk for postoperative cognitive decline.
Detailed description
Postoperative cognitive decline (POCD), now classified within the spectrum of perioperative neurocognitive disorders, is characterized by a decline in cognitive function following anesthesia and surgery. Although POCD has been extensively studied following major cardiac and non-cardiac procedures, limited evidence exists regarding cognitive outcomes after ambulatory procedures performed under sedation. Cataract surgery represents one of the most common surgical procedures in older adults, a population with a high prevalence of comorbidities associated with cognitive vulnerability. Despite this, postoperative cognitive outcomes following ambulatory cataract surgery remain poorly characterized.
This prospective, single-center, observational study is designed to estimate the proportion of elderly patients who develop postoperative cognitive decline following ambulatory cataract surgery performed under sedation at the Kensington Eye Institute. The study will not alter routine clinical care or anesthetic management. Participants will undergo standard perioperative care, and all anesthetic techniques, medications, and perioperative management will be determined by the treating anesthesia and surgical teams according to routine clinical practice.
Following informed consent, participants will complete a baseline cognitive assessment using the Tele-Montreal Cognitive Assessment (T-MoCA), a validated cognitive screening instrument suitable for remote administration. Demographic information, relevant medical comorbidities, home medications, and perioperative anesthetic and procedural data will also be collected. Follow-up cognitive assessments will be completed remotely using the T-MoCA at approximately 3 weeks and 3 months after surgery through secure electronic access.
The study will evaluate cognitive change by comparing follow-up T-MoCA scores with baseline performance. Postoperative cognitive decline will be defined according to a prespecified threshold based on change from baseline. In addition to estimating the incidence of postoperative cognitive decline, the study will describe the prevalence of previously unrecognized baseline cognitive impairment identified during preoperative cognitive screening.
Data will be collected using REDCap, a secure, web-based electronic data capture system. Study data will be de-identified using unique participant identification numbers, and identifiable information will be stored separately from research data in accordance with institutional privacy policies. Data quality will be maintained through standardized data collection procedures, source document verification, and routine review for completeness and accuracy.
Descriptive statistical methods will be used to estimate the proportion of participants meeting criteria for postoperative cognitive decline at each follow-up time point. The planned sample size of approximately 300 participants provides adequate precision for estimating the incidence of postoperative cognitive decline while accounting for anticipated loss to follow-up.
Primary outcome measures
- Proportion of patients with postoperative cognitive decline following sedation for ambulatory cataract surgery [Time frame: 3 months post-operatively]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
1\. All patients ages 65 and older
Exclusion criteria
- Inability to understand instructions in English
- Lack of access to a computer, tablet, smartphone, or internet access
- Patients with established cognitive deficit diagnoses (e.g. Alzheimer's, TBI, stroke)
- Patients with known psychiatric diagnoses
- Patients who have undergone any procedure or surgery requiring sedation, regional, neuraxial or general anesthesia within the past 6 months
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Canada · 1 center
- Kensington Eye Institute — Toronto
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07714174 · 43401