Oral Sedation Anesthesia Protocol for In-Office Oculoplastic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Anesthesiology
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Oculoplastic surgery is often performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.
• In-office anesthesia protocols can potentially improve patient convenience and reduce healthcare costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel oral anesthesia protocol for in-office oculoplastic surgery.
• To compare the safety, patient experience, and physician experience of in-office oral anesthesia with ASC-based anesthesia.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study compared patients undergoing oculoplastic surgery in an office setting with oral sedation versus an ASC with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.
• Pre- and postoperative surveys assessed patient and physician satisfaction, safety, and efficacy.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in patient or physician experience were found between in-office and ASC settings.
• A higher proportion of ASC patients preferred in-office surgery, while more physicians preferred ASCs.
• No safety complications were reported in either setting.

Conclusions:

• The presented oral sedation protocol is a safe and effective anesthesia option for in-office oculoplastic surgery.
• In-office oculoplastic surgery with oral anesthesia is comparable to ASC-based procedures in terms of safety and experience.