Related Experiment Videos
No-needle one-quadrant sub-tenon anaesthesia for panretinal photocoagulation
J D Stevens1, A J Foss, A M Hamilton
1Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.
Eye (London, England)
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Sub-Tenon lignocaine irrigation offers a safer alternative to traditional injections for pain management during panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). This no-needle technique significantly reduced pain scores in patients previously intolerant to topical anesthesia alone.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) can cause significant pain for some patients.
- Current alternative local anesthesia methods like retrobulbar injections carry risks of orbital structure damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a no-needle sub-Tenon lignocaine irrigation technique for pain management during PRP.
- To assess pain reduction in patients previously intolerant to topical anesthesia alone.
Main Methods:
- A one-quadrant, inferior-nasal, sub-Tenon delivery of 1.5-2 ml plain 2% lignocaine was administered to 12 eyes.
- Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) was performed subsequently.
- Pain was assessed using a visual analogue score (0-10) by patients.
Main Results:
- Topical amethocaine 1% alone resulted in median pain scores of 8 (mean 8.5, range 6-10).
- Sub-Tenon lignocaine irrigation was well tolerated with median pain scores of 1.5 (mean 1.9, range 0-5).
- PRP was successfully completed in 11 of 12 patients with significantly reduced pain (median 1.5, mean 1.8, range 0-9).
Conclusions:
- No-needle sub-Tenon lignocaine irrigation is an effective and well-tolerated method for managing pain during PRP.
- This technique offers a theoretically safer alternative to invasive local anesthetic injections.
- It improves patient tolerance for PRP in those previously experiencing significant pain.