Contact topical anesthesia versus general anaesthesia in strabismus surgery

To evaluate the anesthetic block provided by contact topical anesthesia (CTA) in strabismus surgery in adult patients. To analyze postoperative pain and surgical outcome obtained by CTA compared with general anesthesia (GA).

Prospective longitudinal cohort study of adult patients undergoing strabismus surgery by CTA or GA. The intensity of pain perceived by patients during the course of surgery and in the postoperative period was measured using Numerical Pain Scale. The success of the surgical outcome, considered as a residual ocular deviation<10 prism diopters, was evaluated.

Twenty-three patients were operated using CTA and 26 using AG. During the course of surgery, pain intensity experienced by patients in ATC group was 3.17±2.44. There were no differences between CTA group and AG group in the intensity of pain in the immediate postoperative period (2.13±2.39 vs. 2.77±2.18, respectively; P=.510) and during the first postoperative day (3.22±2.84 vs. 3.17±2.73; P=.923). Surgical success was significantly higher in the CTA group than in the GA group (78.3 vs. 73.1%; P=.019).

CTA provides adequate sensory block to perform strabismus surgery. The control of postoperative pain is similar to that obtained with AG. Conservation of ocular motility providing CTA enables better surgical outcome.