Topical anesthetic pledgett system (TAPS) for intravitreal injection preparation

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Anesthesiology
• Surgical Preparation

Background:

• Intravitreal injections are a common ophthalmic procedure requiring effective patient preparation.
• Traditional topical anesthetic delivery methods may have limitations in efficacy and efficiency.
• Pledget drug delivery has a history of success in ophthalmology for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel topical anesthetic delivery method for intravitreal injections.
• To achieve effective anesthetic coverage and enhance patient comfort.
• To improve staff productivity and patient flow in an ophthalmology practice.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a tubular pledget using cotton soaked in 4% Lidocaine.
• Placement of the pledget in the inferior fornix, covering the intended injection site.
• A hands-free approach allowing patients to close their eyes for 5-7 minutes.

Main Results:

• Patients reported no discomfort during pledget placement and minimal discomfort during injection.
• The method demonstrated effective anesthetic coverage.
• Staff productivity increased due to the hands-free nature and potential for simultaneous preparation.

Conclusions:

• The topical anesthetic pledget (TAP) delivery system is an effective and efficient tool for intravitreal injections.
• This system addresses the growing need for improved anesthetic delivery and workflow optimization.
• The TAP system offers a reproducible and comfortable preparation method for patients undergoing intravitreal procedures.