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Evaluating the effectiveness of localized sub-Tenon’s anesthesia in 23-gauge vitreoretinal surgery

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the effectiveness of localized sub-Tenon’s anesthesia for pain control during 23-gauge vitreoretinal surgery.

Methods

Eighty patients were randomly divided into two groups as localized sub-Tenon’s (group 1, n = 41) and retrobulbar (group 2, n = 39) anesthesia groups. In group 1, a small volume of anesthetic was injected into the sub-Tenon’s capsules at the trocar entry sites. The 23-gauge vitreoretinal surgery was performed in all patients. In both groups, the pain levels during the surgical steps were evaluated using the visual analog pain scale.

Results

Patients in group 1 experienced less pain than group 2 patients did during placement of the trocars and scleral depression (p = 0.041, p = 0.029). Pain during laser photocoagulation was higher in group 1 (p = 0.008). There was no serious complication due to anesthesia or surgery.

Conclusion

Localized sub-Tenon’s anesthesia is as effective as retrobulbar anesthesia in many steps of vitreoretinal surgery for providing pain control. It can be considered an alternative form of local anesthesia.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Cagatay Buyukustun for assistance with statistical analysis.

Funding

Authors do not have proprietary interest, and any financial support or grant has been received.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey

    Atilla Alpay

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Nişantaşı University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Tuncer Güney

  3. Göz Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Tıp Fakültesi, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit Üniversitesi, 67600, Kozlu, Zonguldak, Turkey

    Atilla Alpay

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Correspondence to Atilla Alpay.

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Alpay, A., Güney, T. Evaluating the effectiveness of localized sub-Tenon’s anesthesia in 23-gauge vitreoretinal surgery. Int Ophthalmol 41, 195–201 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01566-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10792-020-01566-3

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