Contact topical anesthesia versus general anaesthesia in strabismus surgery

Topical anaesthesia in strabismus surgery for Graves' orbitopathy: a comparative study of 111 patients

PURPOSE

To evaluate the tolerability and usability of topical anaesthesia in single rectus muscle recession for strabismus caused by Graves' orbitopathy (GO). To compare the perioperative pain score and surgical outcome between GO patients and non-GO patients.

METHODS

A retrospective comparative study of consecutive single rectus muscle recession performed under topical anaesthesia was carried out. All patients scheduled for one-stage single rectus muscle recession under topical anaesthesia were included. Numerical visual analogue pain score scale (NVAS) points, rates of motor success (horizontal deviation < 8 prism diopters (PD) and vertical deviation ≤ 6 PD) and sensory success (no diplopia without prisms), complications and postoperative adjustment frequencies were compared between GO and non-GO patients.

RESULTS

A total of 111 patients were included. The mean perioperative pain scores were 2.3 (SD ± 1.3) in GO and 1.6 (SD ± 1.1) in non-GO patients (p = 0.06 adjusted for gender). The postoperative mean alignments in GO and non-GO patients were 2 versus 3 PD horizontally and 1 versus 1 PD vertically respectively. Both motor and sensory success rates were 98% in GO patients and 94% versus 93% in non-GO patients. Adjustments as a second procedure the day after surgery was performed in 10% of the GO patients and 15% of the non-GO patients. The oculocardiac reflex was not triggered in any of the GO patients.

CONCLUSION

Topical anaesthesia in single muscle recession for GO is safe, well-tolerated and gives comparable surgical outcomes to those achieved in non-GO patients.

Retrospective analysis of risk factors of postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing ambulatory strabismus surgery via general anaesthesia

Background and Aims

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), one of the common complications following strabismus surgery, would delay the ambulatory discharge time. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the risk factors of PONV in patients undergoing ambulatory strabismus surgery under general anaesthesia, with the treatments of dexamethasone and 5-HT₃ antagonist combination.

Methods

We reviewed 721 consecutive patients (12-60 years old) undergoing ambulatory strabismus surgery under general anaesthesia at an academic eye centre between December 2016 and January 2019. Patients received prophylactic treatment of dexamethasone and 5-HT₃ antagonist combination during anaesthesia induction, and PONV was evaluated during the early recovery period before discharge.

Results

The dexamethasone and 5-HT₃ antagonist combination effectively reduced the incidence of PONV (3.05%, 22/721), and the patients who experienced PONV had statistically prolonged phase II recovery time as compared those who did not (P = 0.006). The sum of the extraocular muscles manipulated and the use of nalbuphine (vs flurbiprofen axetil) were the independent risk factors for PONV (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The sum of the extraocular muscles manipulated and the use of nalbuphine are potentially modifiable risk factors for PONV after strabismus surgery with the treatments of dexamethasone and 5-HT₃ antagonist combination.

Etomidate plus fentanyl for anesthesia in pediatric strabotomy

Considering the side effects of etomidate, it requires additional anesthetics to reduce the side effects and improve efficacy. Ketamine is often used as an adjunct anesthetic. We hypothesized that etomidate combined with fentanyl was more effective than etomidate combined with ketamine in the anesthesia of pediatric strabotomy. To prove our hypothesis, a prospective randomized controlled clinical study was performed, in which 35 children with strabotomy received etomidate plus ketamine (group A) for anesthesia induction and maintenance and 35 children with strabotomy received etomidate combined with fentanyl (group B). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), bispectral index (BIS), anesthesia effect, and emergence agitation and pain were observed before anesthesia induction (T1), after anesthesia induction (T2), at the beginning of the operation (T3), after 10-min operation (T4), and at the end of the operation (T5). Children in group B had significantly lower MAP and HR from T3 to T5, decreased BIS from T2 to T4, better anesthesia effect, and smaller emergence agitation and pain scores at 10 min after entering into postanesthesia care unit (PACU) compared with group A (p < 0.05). The mean emergence agitation score in group B was significantly lower than that in group A when the maximum emergence in group B was at 20 min after entering into PACU (p < 0.05). In conclusion, etomidate combined with fentanyl plays a good efficacy in anesthesia of pediatric strabotomy compared with etomidate plus ketamine.

Clinical evidence supporting the use of donor sclera as spacer material in complicated cases of strabismus surgery - retrospective evaluation of surgical results in 117 patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy or congenital strabismus

PURPOSE

To examine the outcome of the use of donor sclera as spacer material in complicated cases of strabismus surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study on patients with complicated thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) (n = 42) or congenital strabismus (n = 75). Patients underwent strabismus surgery during 1994-2014. The surgical results were evaluated in terms of the reduction in the angle of deviation, the need for re-operation, complications and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

The majority of the TAO patients underwent surgery for vertical strabismus (n = 25). The vertical angle of deviation in the primary position was significantly reduced from a median of 23 prism dioptres (PD) to 2 PD (n = 35, p < 0.001). The horizontal angle of deviation in primary position for TAO patients with esotropia was significantly reduced, from a median of 35 PD to 2 PD (n = 17, p < 0.001). The majority of the congenital cases had horizontal strabismus (esotropia = 29, exotropia = 27). The angle of deviation in esotropia was reduced from a median of 29 PD to 8 PD (n = 36, p < 0.001) and in exotropia from 30 PD to 10 PD (n = 34, p < 0.001). Most of the patients were satisfied with the outcome of surgery, and only 12% required re-operation within 2 years.

CONCLUSION

This is the first clinical study on the use of donor sclera as spacer material in complicated cases of strabismus surgery. The surgical results were good in terms of the reduction in the angle of deviation, the need for re-operation, complications and patient satisfaction, supporting the use of donor sclera for strabismus surgery.

Remifentanil: A help in topical strabismus surgery

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the analgesic effect of remifentanil, side effects and complications in topical strabismus surgery. To study the results of strabismus surgery with this type of anesthesia.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Retrospective descriptive study. We included 39 patients undergoing strabismus surgery with topical anesthesia and analgesia-based sedation with remifentanil. The data of the anesthetic and surgical technique, surgical results and stability of the deviation angle were analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty nine patients (54% women) were included, the average age was 37,4years old. The mean follow-up was 24,5months. The preoperative diagnoses were exotropia (21 patients), esotropia (12), paresis strabismus (4) and Duane's Syndrome (2). 15% patients had preoperative diplopia and 13 had received previous treatments. The dose range of remifentanil used was 0.05 to 0.2μg/kg/min. The side effects presented were 2 cases of vomit and one of bad collaboration during the intraoperative adjustment, one of the patient reported pain and one case of thoracic rigidity was reported. 79% of the patients obtained a good surgical result and 82% reported being satisfied with the results. The reintervention rate was 5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Analgesia-based sedation with remifentanil is an useful complement to topical strabismus surgery because it reduces pain during surgery and allows the patient to collaborate during intraoperative adjustment due to its pharmacokinetic characteristics.