Parachute-like harness to position patients with severe kyphosis during cataract surgery
Received 6 January 2009; received in revised form 1 March 2009; accepted 1 March 2009.
We describe a technique to position patients with severe kyphosis so the head is horizontal. The legs are lifted into the Trendelenburg position, and the patient is supported with straps similar to those of a parachute. Although the patient's legs are high above the head and jugular distension has been observed, we have not noticed posterior pressure in the 2 cases we describe. This technique is similar to that described by others but has the additional security of the parachute-like straps.
From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (Muthialu, Rauen, Jensen, Oetting), University of Iowa, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Oetting), Iowa City, Iowa; and the Newsom Eye and Laser Center (Newson), Sebring, Florida, USA
Corresponding author: Thomas A. Oetting, MD, MS, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, 11196-L PFP, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1091, USA.
Arpitha Muthialu, MD, and Matthew Rauen, MD, contributed equally to the study.
No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
ABSTRACT