Etidocaine used for retrobulbar block: a comparison with lidocaine

Fifty patients in a double-blind study received in randomized fashion either etidocaine HCl (Duranest) 1% or lidocaine HCl (Xylocaine) 2% with epinephrine 1:200,000 in a retrobulbar block for cataract surgery. Two parallel groups of 25 patients each were studied comparing the clinical properties of the drugs. The onset time for sensory and motor blocks of both drugs was essentially the same (3 minutes). The duration of action of etidocaine was considerably longer than lidocaine and less postoperative pain medication was required by patients blocked with etidocaine.