I
n the first of this 2-part article, the author described the
preoperative care of patients who undergo enucleation
surgery (removal of the eye). This included psychological
care, what the surgery itself entails and the preoperative
preparation of the patient. This second part explores the
postoperative considerations and care of patients who have
undergone enucleation surgery. Again, it is the author’s
intention to provide both evidenced and anecdotal references
in the discussion of this challenging area of the support and
care of these patients.
As highlighted in part one, enucleation and evisceration
are two quite different surgical techniques for removing
the eye. Enucleation is the complete surgical removal of the
eyeball (globe). Evisceration is the complete surgical removal
of the contents of the eye, leaving the avascular sclera and
surrounding adnexa (Vaughan et al, 1995).
Patients who have to undergo enucleation surgery mainly fall
into two categories: the acute patient and the chronic patient.