The effects of adrenaline, hyaluronidase and age on peribulbar anaesthesia

In a prospective, randomised, masked trial, 91 patients undergoing intraocular surgery received an anaesthetic mixture containing lignocaine hydrochloride 2% and bupivacaine hydrochloride 0.5%. In addition group 1 had hyaluronidase (50 i.u./ml) and adrenaline (1:200,000), group 2 had hyaluronidase alone, group 3 had adrenaline alone and group 4 had neither. The groups were compared regarding the quality of operating conditions. Hyaluronidase had a substantial beneficial effect though there was no significant difference related to the use of adrenaline. Anaesthesia was less effective in patients under the age of 65 years.