Anaesthesia for cataract surgery. A preliminary communication.

It is well recognized that patients presenting for cataract surgery are usually old, with a high incidence of medical disease. This combination is said greatly to increase the risk of general anaesthesia. In an unselected series of patients undergoing cataract surgery, 53.5% had a significant medical problem and 50% were receiving some form of medical treatment. All but three of the patients were given a general anaesthetic. The series is discussed against the background of anaesthetic morbidity. The authors recommend that routine electrocardiograms should be carried out on all patients over 60 years of age.