A Comparison of Retrobulbar Versus Topical Anesthesia in Trabeculectomy and Aqueous Shunt Surgery

Alex Theventhiran, Muhammad Shabsigh, Carlos Gustavo De Moraes, George A. Cioffi, Mohammed Kamel, Dana Blumberg, Lama A. Al-Aswad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to compare the required supplemental anesthesia and postoperative patient pain score in individuals undergoing glaucoma surgery under topical anesthesia (TA) versus retrobulbar anesthesia (RB).Materials and Methods:A retrospective, interventional, comparative cohort study of 261 eyes of 225 patients undergoing glaucoma and combined glaucoma with cataract surgery were included in the study. The main outcome measures were the amount of supplemental, systemic intraoperative anesthesia used and the postoperative pain scale between patients undergoing TA versus RB anesthesia. A secondary analysis was performed between combined glaucoma and cataract surgery versus glaucoma surgery alone.Results:About 6.2% patients complained of pain after glaucoma surgery (8.1% among TA group and 3.1% among RB group; P=0.049). Overall, pain tended to be mild with a mean score of 0.32 of 10 for TA and 0.08 of 10 for RB (P=0.027). The amount of IV anesthetics used intraoperatively was lower in the RB anesthesia compared with the TA group (midazolam, P=0.042; fentanyl, P<0.001; propofol, P<0.001). In addition, patients undergoing RB anesthesia were less likely to use postoperative pain medication (P<0.001). There was no difference in pain score (P=0.707) or in the amount of IV anesthetics (all P>0.350) between eyes undergoing combined versus glaucoma surgery alone.Conclusions:Although supplemental anesthesia and pain scores were statistically increased in the topical group, the prevalence and the severity of pain was low. Therefore, TA is feasible and a reasonable option for glaucoma surgery. Furthermore, this conclusion applies when glaucoma surgery is performed alone or in combination with the other eye surgery.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)28-32
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of glaucoma
Volume27
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • aqueous shunt surgery
  • pain levels
  • retrobulbar anesthesia
  • topical anesthesia in trabeculectomy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A Comparison of Retrobulbar Versus Topical Anesthesia in Trabeculectomy and Aqueous Shunt Surgery'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this