Side effects of postoperative administration of methylprednisolone and gentamicin into the posterior sub-Tenon's space.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the incidence of postoperative emetic side effects after the administration of methylprednisolone and gentamicin into the posterior sub-Tenon's space at the end of routine cataract surgery.


METHODS
St. Luke's Hospital, Gwardamangia, Malta.


METHODS
A double-blind double-armed prospective study comprised 40 patients who had uneventful sutureless phacoemulsification under sub-Tenon's local infiltration of 3 mL of plain lignocaine. At the end of the procedure, Group A (n = 20) had 20 mg/0.5 mL of methylprednisolone and 10 mg/0.5 mL of gentamicin injected into the posterior sub-Tenon's space and Group B (n = 20) had the same combination injected into the anterior sub-Tenon's space. Postoperatively, all patients were assessed for symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and headache. A chi-square test was used to assess the statistical significance of results.


RESULTS
Sixty percent in Group A developed postoperative emetic symptoms, headache, or both; 1 patient in Group B developed symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of methylprednisolone and gentamicin in the posterior sub-Tenon's space was related to a high incidence of side effects including nausea, vomiting, and headache. All adverse effects were self-limiting.
Mercieca
Karl
K
Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom. doctormercieca@yahoo.com
Mercieca
Franco
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009915:Orbit; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D005839:Gentamicins; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008775:Methylprednisolone