Comparison of Two Needle Lengths in Regional Ophthalmic Anesthesia in The Medial Canthus Approach: A Prospective study

Khattab, Rehab; Aboul Fetouh, Iman; Sherif, Norhan; Osama, Noha; Mohamad, Mayada; Naguib, Nader

doi:10.21608/jors.2022.102511.1009

Comparison of Two Needle Lengths in Regional Ophthalmic Anesthesia in The Medial Canthus Approach: A Prospective study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Anesthesia, Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Giza, Egypt

² Department of Anesthesia; Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Giza, Egypt

³ Department of Anesthesia; Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/jors.2022.102511.1009

Abstract

Purpose of the study: To compare the efficacy and safety of using a short, fine needle to the standard needle in performing medial canthal peribulbar blockade. Patients & Methods: The study enrolled 110 patients who were randomized into two groups: group A in which a short, fine (12mm, 28G) needle was used to perform the block, and group B in which the standard (25mm, 24G) needle was used to perform the block. The needle was inserted into the medial canthus and was straightly advanced to its full length and the local anesthetic solution was injected. Ocular akinesia was assessed after 3, 5, and 10 minutes using the simple akinesia score. If the block was inadequate for surgery after 10 minutes, supplementary anesthesia was provided using the same needle. The primary outcome was the need for anesthetic supplementation. Results: No significant difference was noted between the two groups concerning local anesthetic volume, anesthetic supplementation, or akinesia. No complications were reported in either group. Conclusions: Medial canthal peribulbar blockade for cataract surgery using short, fine (12mm, 28G) injection needle is comparable to that performed using the standard (25mm, 24G) needle in addition of being more simple, easy to perform, and less painful.

Keywords