Diplopia from peribulbar ropivicaine.
OBJECTIVE
To report a previously undescribed side-effect of ropivicaine (Naropin) used in peribulbar anaesthesia.


METHODS
We report nine cases identified prospectively with symptomatic diplopia, predominantly vertical, following Ropivicaine use for peribulbar anaesthesia in routine cataract surgery. These nine cases occurred in a 10-week period from a total of 77 patients given 7 mL peribulbar ropivicaine (10 mg/mL) with 750 units hyalase prior to cataract extraction by a single surgical team.


RESULTS
None of the cases had preoperative ocular motility disturbances and none had superior rectus traction sutures. All diplopia resolved in less than 30 h.


CONCLUSIONS
Ropivicaine may have a prolonged motor block resulting in diplopia of up to 30 h duration after peribulbar anaesthesia.
Wells
A P
AP
Wellington Hospital, New Zealand. tony.wells@mailcity.com.uk
Maslin
K
K
D000577:Amides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D004172:Diplopia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077212:Ropivacaine
D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine