Spontaneous respiration versus controlled ventilation anaesthesia with halothane for intra-ocular surgery

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Care

Background:

• Intra-ocular surgery requires precise anesthetic management to maintain stable intra-ocular pressure (IOP).
• The choice between controlled ventilation and spontaneous breathing under halothane anesthesia may impact surgical conditions and IOP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) versus spontaneous breathing during halothane anesthesia for intra-ocular surgery.
• To evaluate the impact of anesthetic technique on intra-ocular pressure, surgical conditions, and patient recovery.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial involving 137 patients undergoing intra-ocular surgery.
• Patients were allocated to either IPPV (n=71) or spontaneous breathing (n=66) under halothane anesthesia.
• Data collected included operating conditions, intra-ocular pressure fluctuations, anesthesia duration, recovery time, and post-operative outcomes.

Main Results:

• Both IPPV and spontaneous breathing provided satisfactory operating conditions in 87% and 80% of cases, respectively.
• Intra-ocular pressure changes (reduction, rise, or stability) were similar between groups; surgeons' reports correlated well with IOP.
• Anesthesia duration, recovery times, post-operative complications (vomiting, headache, sore throat, confusion), and resumption of normal functions were comparable.

Conclusions:

• Halothane anesthesia with either IPPV or spontaneous breathing is suitable for intra-ocular surgery, yielding similar operative conditions and patient recovery.
• The choice of ventilation technique does not significantly influence intra-ocular pressure dynamics or post-operative outcomes in this patient cohort.
• Pre-operative intra-ocular pressure influences intra-operative IOP trends, irrespective of the ventilation method used.