The effect on outcome of peribulbar anaesthesia in conjunction with general anesthesia for vitreoretinal surgery

Surgical exposure for vitrectomy in retinopathy of prematurity

Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of lateral canthotomy, sub-tenon anesthesia injection, and the use of modified speculum for gaining adequate surgical exposure during surgery for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Fourteen eyes of 10 consecutive patients undergoing microincisional vitrectomy surgery (MIVS) for stage 4 and stage 5 ROP were included. There was a significant widening of the palpebral fissure height and length using this technique. No patient developed a lens injury during the surgery. All the canthotomy incisions completely healed at a four-week follow-up visit. This is a safe and effective technique for increasing surgical exposure in cases of ROP requiring vitrectomy.

Adequacy of Anaesthesia for Nociception Detection during Vitreoretinal Surgery

Vitreoretinal surgery (VRS) is one of the most widely performed precise procedures in ophthalmic surgery; the majority of cases are carried out under regional anaesthesia (RA) only. However, in specific situations (such as when the patient fails to cooperate with the operator for various reasons), general anaesthesia (GA), alone or in combination with GA (combined general-regional anaesthesia, CGR), is the only safe way to perform VRS. While monitoring the efficacy of an intraoperative rescue opioid analgesia (IROA) during surgery (assessing the adequacy of anaesthesia (AoA)) may be challenging, the surgical pleth index (SPI) is a useful tool for detecting the reaction to noxious stimuli and allows for the rational titration of opioid analgesics (AO) during surgery. The current study investigated the influence of the SPI-based titration of fentanyl (FNT) in combination with various pre-emptive analgesia (PA) techniques on intraoperative pain perception during various stages of VRS performed under AoA. A total of 176 patients undergoing VRS under GA were enrolled in the study. They were randomly assigned to one of the five following study arms: Group GA (control group)-patients who received general anaesthesia alone; Group PBB-GA with preprocedural peribulbar block (with 0.5% bupivacaine and 2% lidocaine); Group T-GA with preventive, topical 2% proparacaine; Group M-GA with a preprocedural intravenous infusion of 1.0 g of metamizole; and Group P-GA with a preprocedural intravenous infusion of 1.0 g of paracetamol. The whole procedure was divided in four stages: Stage 1 and 2-preoperative assessment, PA administration, and the induction of GA; Stage 3-intraoperative observation; Stage 4-postoperative observation. the SPI values were monitored during all stages. The occurrence of nociception (expressed as ∆SPI >15) during various manipulations in the surgical field was observed, as were cumulative doses of rescue analgesia, depending on the PA administered. During the course of VRS, rescue FNT doses varied depending on the stage of surgery and the group investigated. The majority of patients, regardless of their group allocation, needed complementary analgesia during trocar insertion, with Group GA patients requiring the highest doses. Likewise, the highest cumulative doses of IROA were noted during endophotocoagulation in Group GA. Preventive PBB and topical anaesthesia were proven to be most efficient in blunting the response to speculum installation, while topical anaesthesia and paracetamol infusion were shown to be more efficient analgesics during endophotocoagulation than other types used PA. In the performed study, none of the PA techniques used were superior to GA with FNT dosing under the SPI with respect to providing efficient analgesia throughout the whole surgery; there was a necessity to administer a rescue OA dose in both the control and investigated groups.

Anesthetic Approach in Ambulatory Vitrectomy: Peribulbar Block vs. Balanced General Anesthesia

Background

Vitrectomy is one of the most common outpatient ophthalmic surgeries. The anesthetic technique used in outpatient surgery should contribute to a faster functional recovery, better pain control, and fewer complications. The aim of this study was to compare peribulbar block and balanced general anesthesia, in patients undergoing outpatient vitrectomy.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was carried out, including adult patients undergoing ambulatory vitrectomy, between January and February 2018. Peribulbar block or balanced general anesthesia was the independent variable analyzed. Clinical and perioperative variables were evaluated, namely, postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting in the postoperative period, intraoperative hypotension, patient satisfaction with the anesthetic technique, time to oral diet introduction and to hospital discharge, operating room occupancy time, and pharmacological costs. SPSS^® 27 was used for statistical analyses.

Results

Twenty-one patients were evaluated, 11 of whom underwent peribulbar block and 10 underwent balanced general anesthesia. Patients undergoing peribulbar block did not experience postoperative pain when compared to patients undergoing balanced general anesthesia (p=0.001). Intraoperative hypotension occurred in 18.2% of patients undergoing peribulbar block and in 70% of those undergoing balanced general anesthesia (p=0.03). Time to oral diet introduction (<1 hour vs. > 2 hours; p < 0.05), operating room occupancy time (70 vs. 90 minutes; p=0.027), time to hospital discharge (17 vs. 22.5 hours; p=0.004), and pharmacological costs (4.65 vs. 12.09 euros; p < 0.05) were lower in patients undergoing peribulbar block versus balanced general.

Conclusions

Peribulbar block seems to meet the criteria of an ideal anesthetic technique in outpatient vitrectomy surgery.

Adverse Events during Vitrectomy under Adequacy of Anesthesia-An Additional Report

The intraprocedural immobilization of selected subsets of patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) requires the performance of general anesthesia (GA), which entails the intraoperative use of hypnotics and titration of opioids. The Adequacy of Anesthesia (AoA) concept of GA guidance optimizes the intraoperative dosage of hypnotics and opioids. Pre-emptive analgesia (PA) is added to GA to minimize intraoperative opioid (IO) usage. The current additional analysis evaluated the advantages of PA using either COX-3 inhibitors or regional techniques when added to AoA-guided GA on the rate of presence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), oculo-emetic (OER), and oculo-cardiac reflex (OCR) in patients undergoing PPV. A total of 176 patients undergoing PPV were randomly allocated into 5 groups: (1) Group GA, including patients who received general anesthesia alone; (2) Group T, including patients who received preventive topical analgesia by triple instillation of 2% proparacaine 15 min before induction of GA; (3) Group PBB, including patients who received PBB; (4) Group M, including patients who received PA using a single dose of 1 g of metamizole; (5) Group P, including patients who received PA using a single dose of 1 g of acetaminophen. The incidence rates of PONV, OCR, and OER were studied as a secondary outcome. Despite the group allocation, intraoperative AoA-guided GA resulted in an overall incidence of PONV in 9%, OCR in 12%, and OER in none of the patients. No statistically significant differences were found between groups regarding the incidence of OCR. PA using COX-3 inhibitors, as compared to that of the T group, resulted in less overall PONV (p < 0.05). Conclusions: PA using regional techniques in patients undergoing PPV proved to have no advantage when AoA-guided GA was utilised. We recommend using intraoperative AoA-guided GA to reduce the presence of OCR, and the addition of PA using COX-3 inhibitors to reduce the rate of PONV.

Preventive Analgesia, Hemodynamic Stability, and Pain in Vitreoretinal Surgery

Background and Objectives: Although vitreoretinal surgery (VRS) is most commonly performed under regional anaesthesia (RA), in patients who might be unable to cooperate during prolonged procedures, general anaesthesia (GA) with intraprocedural use of opioid analgesics (OA) might be worth considering. It seems that the surgical pleth index (SPI) can be used to optimise the intraprocedural titration of OA, which improves haemodynamic stability. Preventive analgesia (PA) is combined with GA to minimise intraprocedural OA administration. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the benefit of PA combined with GA using SPI-guided fentanyl (FNT) administration on the incidences of PIPP (postprocedural intolerable pain perception) and haemodynamic instability in patients undergoing VRS (p < 0.05). We randomly assigned 176 patients undergoing VRS to receive GA with SPI-guided FNT administration alone (GA group) or with preventive topical 2% proparacaine (topical anaesthesia (TA) group), a preprocedural peribulbar block (PBB) using 0.5% bupivacaine with 2% lidocaine (PBB group), or a preprocedural intravenous infusion of 1.0 g of metamizole (M group) or 1.0 g of paracetamol (P group). Results: Preventive PBB reduced the intraprocedural FNT requirement without influencing periprocedural outcomes (p < 0.05). Intraprocedural SPI-guided FNT administration during GA resulted in PIPP in 13.5% of patients undergoing VRS and blunted the periprocedural effects of preventive intravenous and regional analgesia with respect to PIPP and haemodynamic instability. Conclusions: SPI-guided FNT administration during GA eliminated the benefits of preventive analgesia in the PBB, TA, M, and P groups following VRS.

Comparison of four peribulbar anaesthetic techniques: a preliminary study in equine cadavers

OBJECTIVE

To compare the peribulbar injectate distribution and probability of regional anaesthesia of four peribulbar anaesthetic techniques in equine cadavers.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective experimental cadaver study.

ANIMALS

A total of 12 isolated equine cadaver heads and 24 eyes.

METHODS

The 24 orbits underwent one of four injection techniques (six orbits each) with a mixture (1:4) of contrast medium and saline (CM): 20 mL ventrolateral peribulbar injection (V-20), 20 mL dorsolateral peribulbar injection (D-20), combined ventrolateral and dorsolateral peribulbar injections 10 mL each (VD-20) or 20 mL each (VD-40). To evaluate and score CM distribution at the base of, within the extraocular muscle cone (EOMC), and around the optic nerve (before and after pressure application to the periorbital area), computed tomography was performed. To assess the probability of achieving locoregional anaesthesia, two criteria were applied and both scored as 'likely', 'possible' or 'unlikely'. To compare CM distribution scores between injection techniques, Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance was used. Mann-Whitney U test was used for post hoc comparisons between groups when needed. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

The CM distribution within the EOMC and around the optic nerve circumference was detected as 'possible' only after pressure application in seven out of 24 orbits (V-20, 3; D-20, 1; VD-40, 3). It was never considered 'likely' either before or after pressure application. The CM distribution at the EOMC base was considered 'likely' to provide regional anaesthesia in 50% (V-20), 0% (D-20), 33% (VD-20), 100% (VD-40) and in 66% (V-20), 16% (D-20), 50% (VD-20), 100% (VD-40) before and after applying pressure, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Complete regional anaesthesia seems more likely using the VD-40 technique, although the authors advise caution due to the risk of potential complications. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy of the technique in vivo.

Randomised, masked study of local anaesthesia administered prior to external dacryocystorhinostomy under general anaesthesia

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether administration of local anaesthetic at the site of skin incision during open lacrimal drainage surgery under general anaesthesia alters the total dosage of anaesthetic drugs required during total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA), and whether it alters postoperative pain and recovery.

STUDY DESIGN

Masked comparison of a randomized, two-group interventional study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients undergoing unilateral external dacryocystorhinostomy under total intravenous general anaesthesia were recruited from the lacrimal service at Moorfields Eye Hospital between September 2012 and February 2014. The patients were randomised to receive, after induction and stabilisation of general anaesthesia, infiltration of the ipsilateral paranasal tissues with 2.5 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:100000 epinephrine ("treatment" group), or a sham injection ("control" group); the infiltration was performed about 7 min prior to the skin incision. The infusion rates for propofol and remifentanil were adjusted to maintain a steady intra-operative mean blood pressure of 55-70 mmHg and BIS score of 40-60%. The time taken for extubation of the patient after cessation of TIVA was recorded, and postoperative pain scores (on a Likert scale from 0-10) were taken at regular intervals after extubation. The average intra-operative mean blood pressures, total drug usage, extubation time and pain scores for each of the two groups were compared using two-tail Student's t-testing and Wilcoxon rank sum testing.

RESULTS

There were 12 patients (7 female; 58%) in the treatment group and 11 (7 female; 64%) in the control group, with similar average age at surgery (59 years treatment, 53 years control; p = 0.38) The average operative time was 45 min in the treatment group (median 42, range 30-55) and 47 min (median 45; range 37-61) in the control group (p = 0.52). The mean dosage of propofol required to maintain satisfactory GA was significantly less in the "treatment" group (89.8 mcg/kg/min) as compared to the "control" group (mean 126 mcg/kg/min) (p = 0.0007). Likewise, remifentanil dosage was significantly less in the "treatment" group (100 ng/kg/min) as compared to controls (259 ng/kg/min) (p = 0.00007). The mean non-invasive blood pressure was consistently lower during surgery in the "treated" group, and showed less intra-operative variation. After surgery, the patients receiving LA had a significantly shorter extubation time (mean time 6.0 min in "treated" group, 12.1 min in "controls"; P < 0.0002) and also significantly lower pain scores at 10, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after extubation (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Ipsilateral infiltration of local anaesthesia containing epinephrine in the paranasal tissues just prior to open dacryocystorhinostomy under total intravenous anaesthesia is associated with a 28% reduction in mean propofol usage, and a 61% reduction in remifentanil usage. LA usage during GA also produces improved and less variable intra-operative mean blood pressures, a significantly shorter extubation time and significantly lower postoperative pain scores.

Formulation of a Peribulbar Block for Prolonged Postoperative Pain Management in Vitreoretinal Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate postoperative pain level using a supplemental peribulbar injection at the conclusion of retinal surgery.

DESIGN

Prospective, parallel-assigned, single-masked, randomized clinical trial.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-eight patients undergoing scleral buckle, vitrectomy, or combined surgery.

METHODS

In a single academic institutional practice, 58 patients undergoing scleral buckle, vitrectomy, or combined surgery were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included those with a risk for glaucoma, a pre-existing chronic pain disorder, among others. Patients were assigned randomly to receive a postoperative peribulbar formulation of either bupivacaine, triamcinolone acetonide, and cefazolin (group A) or bupivacaine, balanced salt solution, and cefazolin (group B). The postoperative pain score and ocular motility were assessed by a masked observer on the first postoperative day.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was the postoperative pain score. Secondary outcome measures included oral analgesic use, ocular motility, and intraocular pressure (IOP).

RESULTS

The mean pain scores were 2.8±2.9 for group A and 3.8±2.6 for group B (P = 0.095). Pain was absent in 28% of group A patients versus 14% of group B patients (P = 0.11). Group A required less narcotic pain medication (hydroxycodone: group A, 0.7±3 mg vs. group B, 3±6 mg; P = 0.05; oxycodone: group A, 7±7 mg vs. 9±13 mg; P = 0.2) than group B. Motility was full in group B and limited in group A (P ≤ 0.001), with no differences in mean IOP measurements at any point after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

We did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in mean postoperative pain scores. However, patients in group A required less hydroxycodone use and had greater akinesia, suggesting prolonged neural blockade.

The Combination of Ketorolac with Local Anesthesia for Pain Control in Day Care Retinal Detachment Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of ketorolac with local anesthesia compared to local anesthesia alone for perioperative pain control in day care retinal detachment surgery. The randomized controlled trial included 59 eyes of 59 participants for retinal detachment surgery who were randomly assigned (1 : 1) into the ketorolac (K) group and control (C) group. All participants underwent conventional local anesthesia while patients in the K group received an extra administration of preoperative ketorolac. Participants in the K group had a statistically significantly lower intraoperative NRS score (median 1.0 versus 3.0, P = 0.003), lower postoperative NRS score (median 0 versus 1.0, P = 0.035), fewer proportion of rescue analgesic requirement (10% versus 34.5%, P = 0.023), and lower incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (13.3% versus 41.4%, P = 0.015) compared to the C group. Intraocular pressure (IOP) changes (△IOP) were significantly reduced in the K group (median 1.9 versus 3.0, P = 0.038) compared to the C group 24 hours postoperatively. In conclusion, the combination of local anesthesia with ketorolac provides better pain control in retinal detachment surgery compared to local anesthesia alone. The beneficial effect of ketorolac with local anesthesia may contribute to a wider-spread adoption of day care retinal detachment surgery. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02729285.

A qualitative study of regional anaesthesia for vitreo-retinal surgery

AIM

The aim of this research was to collect experiential knowledge about regional ocular anaesthesia - an integral component of most vitreo-retinal surgery.

BACKGROUND

Anaesthesia for vitreo-retinal surgery has predominantly used general anaesthesia, because of the length and complexity of the surgical procedure. However, recent advances in surgical instrumentation and techniques have reduced surgical times; this decision has led to the adoption of regional ocular anaesthesia for vitreo-retinal day surgery. Although regional ocular anaesthesia has been studied from several perspectives, knowledge about patients' experience of the procedure is limited.

DESIGN

An interpretive qualitative research methodology underpinned by Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics.

METHODS

Eighteen participants were interviewed in-depth between July 2006-December 2007 following regional ocular anaesthesia. Interview data were thematically analysed by coding and grouping concepts.

FINDINGS

Four themes were identified: 'not knowing': the time prior to the experience of a regional eye block; 'experiencing': the experience of regional ocular anaesthesia; 'enduring': the capacity participants displayed to endure regional ocular anaesthesia with the hope that their vision would be restored; and 'knowing': when further surgery was required and past experiences were recalled.

CONCLUSIONS

The experience of regional ocular anaesthesia had the capacity to invoke anxiety in the participants in this study. Many found the experience overwhelming and painful. What became clear was the participant's capacity to stoically 'endure' regional ocular anaesthesia, indicating the value people placed on visual function.

Effects of propofol versus urapidil on perioperative hemodynamics and intraocular pressure during anesthesia and extubation in ophthalmic patients

AIM

To compare the effect of propofol versus urapidil on hemodynamics and intraocular pressure during anesthesia and extubation for ophthalmic patients.

METHODS

Eighty-two surgical patients (Class: ASA I-II) were randomly assigned to propofol (n=41) and urapidil groups (n=41). Their gender, age, body mass, operation time and dosage of anesthetics had no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The patients of propofol and urapidil groups were given propofol (1.5mg/kg) and urapidil (2.5mg/kg) respectively; and two drugs were all diluted with normal saline to 8mL. Then the drugs were given to patients by slow intravenous injection. After treatment, the patients were conducted immediate suction, tracheal extubation, and then patients wore oxygen masks for 10 minutes. By double-blind methods, before the induction medication, at the suction, and 5, 10 minutes after the extubation, we recorded the systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), pH, PaO(2), PaCO(2), SaO(2) and intraocular pressure (IOP) respectively. The complete recovery time of the patients with restlessness (on the command they could open eyes and shaking hands) was also recorded during the extubation. The data were analyzed by using a professional SPSS 15.0 statistical software.

RESULTS

The incidence of cough, restlessness and glossocoma was significantly lower in the propofol group than that in the urapidil group after extubation (P<0.05). There were no episodes of hypotension, laryngospasm, or severe respiratory depression. There was no statistical difference in recovery time between two groups (P>0.05). In propofol group, the BP and HR during extubation and thereafter had no significant difference compared with those before induction, while they were significantly lower than those before giving propofol (P<0.05), and had significant difference compared with those in urapidil group (P<0.05). Compared to preinduction, the BP of urapidil group showed no obvious increase during aspiration and extubation. The HR of urapidil group had little changes after being given urapidil, and it was obviously increased compared with that before induction. The stimulation of aspiration and extubation caused less cough and agitation in propofol group than that in urapidil group (P<0.05). The IOP of propofol group showed no obvious increase during extubation compared with that in preinduction, while in the urpidil group, extubation caused IOP significantly increased (P<0.05). The changes in these indicators between the two groups had no significant difference (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Compared to urapidil, propofol is superior for preventing the cardiovascular and stress responses and IOP increases during emergence and extubation for the ophthalmic patients. Moreover, it has no effects on patient's recovery.