Comparison of pain, motility, and preoperative sedation in cataract phacoemulsification patients receiving peribulbar or sub-Tenon's anesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
The authors hoped to reduce the need for preoperative sedation and intravenous pain medication during cataract surgery by converting from peribulbar anesthesia to sub-Tenon's anesthesia.


METHODS
A consecutive series of 2453 cataract patients' charts were reviewed. Each patient had previously watched a videotape explaining the anesthetic method to be used. Requests for preoperative sedation were compared between patients who received peribulbar or sub-Tenon's anesthesia. A sample of 200 charts of nonsedated patients were reviewed to compare intraoperative pain and motility.


RESULTS
Intraoperative freedom from pain was reported by 91% of the peribulbar patients and 99% of the sub-Tenon's patients. Preoperative sedation was reduced from 26% of the peribulbar patients to 6.7% of the sub-Tenon's patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Sub-Tenon's anesthesia provided excellent intraoperative pain relief and reduced the need for preoperative sedation, making it a satisfactory anesthetic technique for patients undergoing cataract phacoemulsification in an ambulatory surgery facility.
Kollarits
C R
CR
Eye Institute of Northwestern Ohio, USA.
Jaweed
S
S
Kollarits
F J
FJ
D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005133:Eye Movements; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007267:Injections; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009915:Orbit; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008140:Lorazepam; D003975:Diazepam