Sub-Tenon's anaesthesia: an efficient and safe technique.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate sub-Tenon's anaesthesia as an alternative to peribulbar anaesthesia.


METHODS
109 consecutive patients listed for various eye operations (including cataract, trabeculectomy, and vitrectomy) under peribulbar anaesthesia were operated on under sub-Tenon's anaesthesia instead. After topical anaesthesia a buttonhole was fashioned through the conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule 10 mm posterior to the limbus. 1.5 ml of lignocaine 2% was then delivered to the posterior sub-Tenon's space using a blunt cannula. The surgical procedure was performed immediately after the completion of the anaesthetic procedure. Chemosis, conjunctival haemorrhage, degree of akinesia, and pain scoring were analysed.


RESULTS
There were no anaesthesia related complications. The administration of the block was painless for 99.1% of the patients. In all, 97.3% reported no pain during surgery. There was no akinesia when assessed just after the completion of the block and akinesia was limited when assessed after surgery. Chemosis and conjunctival haemorrhage were frequent but caused no intraoperative problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Sub-Tenon's anaesthesia is an efficient and safe anaesthetic technique. It is a good alternative to peribulbar anaesthesia.
Roman
S J
SJ
Hopital des Quinze-Vingts, Paris, France.
Chong Sit
D A
DA
Boureau
C M
CM
Auclin
F X
FX
Ullern
M M
MM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003229:Conjunctival Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D005130:Eye Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D013748:Tetracaine; D008012:Lidocaine