UK survey of attitudes to local anaesthesia for vitreoretinal surgery.
BACKGROUND
The use of local anaesthesia (LA) for vitreoretinal (VR) surgery is growing although surgeons in the UK traditionally use general anaesthesia.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the use and attitudes towards local anaesthesia for VR surgery among the members of the British and Eire Association of Vitreo-retinal Surgeons (BEAVRS).


METHODS
A questionnaire was sent to members of BEAVRS. Use of LA was assessed for the following procedures: macular hole; diabetic vitrectomy; vitrectomy; cryopexy and gas; buckling and re-buckling procedures. Attitudes of surgeons generally using LA for primary retinal detachment surgery (> 50% of cases) were compared with those generally using general anaesthesia (GA) (> 50% of cases).


RESULTS
33.6% of surgeons preferred LA for macular hole; 26.2% for diabetic vitrectomy; 23.3% for vitrectomy, cryopexy and gas; 21.4% for buckling procedures; and 9.35% for re-buckling procedures. When surgeons routinely using LA were compared with those regularly using GA they considered LA less stressful for patients and surgeon, patients tolerant to longer operations, and buckling or redo surgery no more difficult under LA. However, both groups considered surgery on young patients and teaching relatively more difficult under LA.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of LA may convey benefits for VR surgery and faster rehabilitation for patients. However, we identified wide variations in the use of and attitudes to LA for VR surgery in British surgeons.
Newsom
R
R
Vitreoretinal Unit, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK. rbnewsom@dircon.co.uk
Luff
A
A
Wainwright
C
C
Canning
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000601:surgery*