title: Retrobulbar anesthesia with a flexible catheter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors describe a method that seeks to improve the administration of local anesthesia for intraocular surgery, avoiding the risk of potential complications associated with retrobulbar and peribulbar techniques and eliminating the inconveniences of the new methods such as subconjunctival and limbal infiltration.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of this technique in 50 consecutive cases. This technique consists of a small, blunt dissection of the conjunctiva, Tenon's capsule, and intermuscular septum in the inferior nasal quadrant, followed by the insertion of a flexible catheter that is guided to the retrobulbar space, where 3.0 ml of anesthetic solution is injected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the patients (100%) felt that this procedure was comfortable and painless. No complications were observed. Ultrasonography demonstrated the exact catheter position in the retrobulbar space; therefore, the authors could be sure that this anesthetic infiltration was done in the appropriate and safe place.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a direct sub-Tenon's technique that is simple, effective, and safe and that avoids introducing a sharp or metallic instrument into the orbit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Santa Casa Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Dantas
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nishiwaki-Dantas
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: de Almeida
mesh_terms: D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine; D002045:Bupivacaine