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Peribulbar versus retrobulbar anaesthesia for cataract surgeryAlhassan MB, Kyari F, Ejere HOD
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SummaryComparison of two forms of local anaesthesia for cataract surgeryCataracts are the commonest cause of blindness, worldwide. A cataract is the clouding of the lens that causes loss of transparency of the eye. It is treated by removing the lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. Cataract surgery is usually performed under local anaesthetic, either peribulbar or retrobulbar anaesthesia. There is debate over whether the peribulbar approach provides more effective and safer anaesthesia for cataract surgery than retrobulbar block. Peribulbar anaesthesia is performed by injecting the anaesthetic drug in the orbit around the equator of the eye ball (globe). Retrobulbar anaesthesia is performed by injecting the anaesthetic drug in the orbit further back behind the eye ball, which is near the nerves that control movement and sensation of the eye. We set out to compare the two forms of local anaesthesia for cataract surgery. Our review showed that pain control and eye muscle paralysis with no movement of the eye ball (akinesia) to allow surgery are no different for the two types of anaesthesia. The need for additional injections of local anaesthetic was higher with peribulbar anaesthesia (four trials). Only one case of bleeding behind the eye occurred and this was with retrobulbar anaesthesia (one trial). The patient acceptability of the two methods was similar in the two studies that reported on this outcome. None of the trials reported any life-threatening complications. There is moderate risk of bias in the included trials.
This is a Cochrane review abstract and plain language summary, prepared and maintained by The Cochrane Collaboration, currently published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010 Issue 1, Copyright © 2010 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).
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July 16. 2008 AbstractBackgroundCataract is a major cause of blindness worldwide. Unless medically contraindicated, cataract surgery is usually performed under local (regional) anaesthesia. Local anaesthesia involves the blockage of a nerve subserving a given part of the body by infiltration of the area around the nerve with local anaesthetic. The two main approaches in the eye are retrobulbar and peribulbar. There is debate over whether the peribulbar approach provides more effective and safer anaesthesia for cataract surgery than retrobulbar block. ObjectivesThe objective of this review was to assess the effects of peribulbar anaesthesia (PB) compared to retrobulbar anaesthesia (RB) on pain scores, ocular akinesia, patient acceptability and ocular and systemic complications. Search strategyWe searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2007, Issue 4); MEDLINE (1960 to December 2007); and EMBASE (1980 to December 2007). Selection criteriaWe included randomized controlled clinical trials comparing peribulbar anaesthesia and retrobulbar anaesthesia for cataract surgery. Data collection and analysisTwo authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted trial authors for additional information, study methodology and missing data. We carried out a descriptive narrative of results as the methods used by the included stories for reporting the outcomes varied. We performed a subgroup analysis for globe akinesia. Main resultsWe included six trials involving 1438 participants. Two of the six trials had a low risk of bias; the remaining four had a moderate risk of bias. There was no evidence of any difference in pain perception during surgery with either retrobulbar or peribulbar anaesthesia. Both were largely effective. There was no evidence of any difference in complete akinesia or the need for further injections of local anaesthetic. Conjunctival chemosis was more common after peribulbar block (relative risk (RR) 2.11, 95% confidence Interval (CI) 1.46 to 3.05) and lid haematoma was more common after retrobulbar block (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.88). Retrobulbar haemorrhage was uncommon and occurred only once, in a patient who had a retrobulbar block. Authors' conclusionsThere is little to choose between peribulbar and retrobulbar block in terms of anaesthesia and akinesia during surgery in terms of acceptability to patients, need for additional injections and development of severe complications. Severe local or systemic complications were rare in PB and RB. |