title: Satisfaction level with topical versus peribulbar anesthesia experienced by same patient for phacoemulsification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various studies have assessed patient satisfaction with topical versus peribulbar anesthesia with conflicting results. Aim of study was to determine satisfaction level in same patient who gets topical anesthesia in one eye and peribulbar block in another eye. We propose that evaluation of various indicators of patient satisfaction will enable better selection of cases for topical anesthesia in the future.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients scheduled for phacoemulsification were enrolled in prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Each patient scheduled twice for one eye under topical anesthesia and other in peribulbar block. Pain, discomfort and pressure during application of local anesthetic, during phacoemulsification and at 2 hours after procedure were assessed on standard scales. Before discharge patient satisfaction level was checked with Iowa satisfaction with anesthesia scale (ISAS). The Student's t-test was used to determine the significance of IOWA score in both groups. P<0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Feeling of pain, pressure and discomfort scores during administration of topical anesthesia were all significantly lower compared to peribulbar anesthesia (P=0.004, 0.000, 0.002, respectively). In contrast, intraoperative scores were significantly higher in the topical anesthesia group compared to peribulbar anesthesia (P=0.022, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). Patient satisfaction measured with ISAS shows that peribulbar anesthesia with P=0.000 is strongly significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peribulbar anesthesia provided significantly better patient satisfaction in comparison with topical anesthesia when used for cataract surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nauman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zahoor
authors.forename: Saeed A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Motowa
authors.forename: Saba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jastaneiah
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Riad
keywords: Patient's satisfaction; phacoemulsification; topical versus peribulbar