title: Comparison of two needle lengths in regional ophthalmic anesthesia with etidocaine and hyaluronidase.
abstract: The effect of needle length on the efficacy of regional ophthalmic anesthesia in conjunction with cataract surgery was studied in 97 patients using a two-site injection technique. The local anesthetic used was etidocaine 1.5% with hyaluronidase. In 48 patients, the anesthetic was administered inferolaterally with a 22-millimeter needle, and in the other 49 patients, with a 31-millimeter needle. Every patient had a medial injection with a 12-millimeter needle to achieve lid akinesia and to complete the globe akinesia. At 5 minutes, lid akinesia was considered better in the 22-millimeter needle group (P < .005). After one supplemental dose, when necessary, complete globe akinesia was achieved at 15 minutes significantly more often (94% vs 79%) in the 31-millimeter needle group (P < .05). Lid akinesia in the two groups was identical at that time. Eight patients in the short-needle group and three in the long-needle group experienced some pain during surgery. Throughout the study, the required intraorbital anesthetic volumes were smaller in the 31-millimeter needle group. We recommend the use of a 31-millimeter needle inferolaterally in combination with a 12-millimeter needle medially to achieve satisfactory regional anesthesia for cataract surgery.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Eye Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Sarvela
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Nikki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D005041:Etidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D009407:Nerve Block; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009915:Orbit; D010146:Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications
chemical_list: D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; D005041:Etidocaine