Local analgesia prevents the cortisol and glycaemic responses to cataract surgery.
We studied the metabolic and hormonal responses to cataract surgery in 18 elderly patients, allocated randomly to receive either general anaesthesia or local analgesia by means of a retrobulbar block. Local analgesia prevented the increases in circulating cortisol and glucose concentrations found in those patients who received general anaesthesia. The results show that complete afferent sensory block of the operative site inhibited endocrine and metabolic responses to ophthalmic surgery.
Barker
J P
JP
Department of Anaesthetics, Edgware General Hospital, Middlesex.
Robinson
P N
PN
Vafidis
G C
GC
Hart
G R
GR
Sapsed-Byrne
S
S
Hall
G M
GM
D000368:Aged; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D005123:Eye / Q000294:innervation; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block; D011897:Random Allocation
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007773:Lactates; D006854:Hydrocortisone