Phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia: series of cases

Abstracts

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia e a segurança da facoemulsificação sob anestesia tópica em casos com complexidade diversa. MÉTODOS: Os prontuários dos pacientes submetidos à facoemulsificação sob anestesia tópica no período de janeiro de 2009 a abril de 2011 foram revisados. Os dados pré-operatórios avaliados foram: sexo, idade, cor, a presença de doenças sistêmicas, comorbidades oculares, o tipo da catarata e a acuidade visual pré-operatória. As informações intra e pós-operatórias colhidas foram: acuidade pósoperatória, complicações intra e pós-operatórias, a necessidade de conversão anestésica e o poder da LIO utilizada. Foram excluídos pacientes com prontuários incompletos. RESULTADOS: Cento e onze (111) casos foram avaliados. Apenas comorbidades oculares mostraram significância estatística na acuidade visual pós-operatória (p=0,004). CONCLUSÃO: A análise indica que a facoemulsificação realizada sob anestesia tópica em casos com complexidades variadas é eficaz e segura.

Facoemulsificação; Anestesia tópica; Anestesia; Comorbidades

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia: series of cases

Vinícius Neumann Tavares^I; Carina Graziottin Colossi^II; Vitor Saalfeld^II; Manuel Augusto Pereira Vilela^III

^IResident physician at the Ophthalmic Institute Ivo Correa-Meyer, Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil

^IIPhysician and supervisor at the Ophthalmic Institute Ivo Correa-Meyer, Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil

^IIIPh.D., Professor of Ophthalmology at the Federal University of Pelotas/RS, Brazil

Corresponding Author

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome and safety of phacoemulsification performed under topical anesthesiain cases with several complexities.

METHODS: Cases performed under topical anesthesia from january 2009 to april 2011 were analyzed. Variables analyzed included patients age, sex, race, systemic diseases, eyes comorbidities, type of cataract, visual acuity before and after the surgery, complications, number of conversions to peribulbar anesthesia and IOL power. Patients with uncompleted data were excluded from analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 111 eyes were analyzed; only cases with ocular comorbidities were statistically significant (p=0,004).

CONCLUSION: the data analysis suggests that phacoemulsification performed under topical anesthesia is safeand effective in cases of different complexities.

Keywords: Phacoemulsification; Anesthesia,topical; Anesthesia/methods; Comorbidity

Registrado no clinicaltrials.gov com a seguinte ID: NCT01381783

INTRODUCTION

Topical anaesthesia is increasingly used in cataract surgery as a safe and inexpensive alternative. It is widely accepted, especially in the U.S., where it is used by 61% of surgeons according to Ezra and Allan⁽¹⁾.

It can be supplemented with intracameral anaesthesia and sedation. Even though both produce an analgesic effect, available studies do not show any statistically significant differences favouring supplemental anaesthesia^(1,2).

The advantages of topical anaesthesia include avoiding the risks associated with orbital injections and a much faster functional recovery. It also eliminates the risk of postoperative diplopia, reduces the time and cost of surgery⁽³⁾, avoids the use of an occluder, and minimises the risk of nausea and malaise. Furthermore, the transcorneal route can be used in patients with coagulation disorders⁽⁴⁾.

Studies show that, although potentially more likely to produce pain, topical anaesthesia results in satisfaction levels comparable to traditional anaesthetic techniques^(5-7).

However, topical anaesthesia should be used on selected patients and by an experienced surgeon. As it does not produce akinesia, it can be hazardous in uncooperative patients^(8,9). The surgeon should be prepared to use ocular immobilisation if necessary⁽¹⁰⁾. The patient should be informed preoperatively that he/she will continue to see during surgery, which may cause anxiety^(11,12). The oculocardiac reflex may occur with this type of anaesthesia⁽¹³⁾.

The anaesthetic agent may also cause irritation resulting in tear film instability, corneal toxicity and allergic reactions⁽⁴⁾.

Few studies in the literature examine the correlation between topical anaesthesia and intra- or postoperative complications. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyse the use of this technique in a case series.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing surgery at the cataract unit of our institution from January 2009 to April 2011. Inclusion criteria were patients with or without comorbidities submitted to phacoemulsification with 1% tetracaine hydrochloride eye drops (Anestésico^TM) through the transcorneal route, without supplemental intracameral anaesthesia. All patients were operated by the same surgeon, who was experienced with the technique, using Universal II and Infinity (Alcon) equipment.

The following data were collected preoperatively: sex, age, race, presence of systemic diseases, ocular comorbidities and preoperative visual acuity. The following data were collected intra- and postoperatively: postoperative visual acuity, intra- and postoperative complications, need of conversion to another anaesthetic technique and IOL power.

Patients whose medical records were incomplete and those undergoing phacoemulsification associated with trabeculectomy were excluded.

Variables were analysed with STATA 11.0 software, using Student's t-test, the chi-square test and logistic regression. Two outcomes were assessed: the need of conversion and postoperative visual acuity. p values under .05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

All patients operated during the study period had complete medical records and were included in the study (no losses).

The average age was 72 years (range 36-91 years, SD=12), and 56.4% of patients were female.

In total, 59.5% of patients had systemic diseases, mainly cardiovascular conditions and diabetes.

Also, 35% of patients had ocular comorbidities, mainly glaucoma (11 cases) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (9 cases). Six patients with prior retinal detachment were operated, of which 3 had silicone oil tamponades. Three patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 2 cases with macular hole underwent cataract surgery and were included in the study.

Average visual acuity before surgery was 0.3 (0.4-0.7) (Figure 1). Average postoperative visual acuity was 0.8 (0.41.0) (p<0.001, t-test) (Figure 2).

Five patients (4.5%) had intraoperative complications: 3 had capsule rupture and 2 had vitreous loss. No cases required conversion of anaesthesia.

There were no significant postoperative complications.

Only one patient required sedation (<1%). Suture was necessary in 2 patients (1.8%).

In logistic regression, only one factor (ocular comorbidites) was correlated with postoperative visual acuity (p=0.004). The others (sex, age, race, systemic comorbidities, type of cataract, preoperative visual acuity, need for suture, and type of implant) showed no correlation.

DISCUSSION

Despite the increased use of topical anaesthesia, there are few comparative studies of adequate sample size.

In 1996, Rao and Bernardes made a study on topical anaesthesia for temporal transcorneal phacoemulsification with 50 subjects. The technique proved to be effective and safe, providing comfort and rapid visual recovery⁽¹⁴⁾.

In a series of 476 operations, Jacobi et al. found no difference between topical and retrobulbar anaesthesia in the rates of intraand postoperative complications in eyes considered to be at higher risk⁽¹⁵⁾. In another study, the same authors found no higher risk of complications using topical anaesthesia in glaucomatous patients⁽¹⁶⁾.

Menapace studied the use of topical anaesthesia in primary posterior capsulotomy in a series of 500 cases, showing it is a safe method⁽¹⁷⁾.

Zhao et al., in a meta-analysis of 15 studies, showed that despite increased pain perception by patients, topical anaesthesia was preferred over traditional techniques⁽⁶⁾. In a series of 40 operations, Roman et al. reported complaints of pain in 10% of cases⁽¹⁸⁾. Weller et al. operated 281 eyes and reported pain in 16% of cases⁽¹⁹⁾.

Fichman assessed the blood pressure and heart and respiratory rate of patients submitted to topical and other types of anaesthesia and found no differences in these measures⁽²⁰⁾. There are also no significant differences in the levels of cortisol during surgery, indicating that the procedure is well tolerated and does not cause additional stress to the patient⁽²⁰⁾.

In our study, after testing all variables, a correlation was found between ocular comorbidities and low visual acuity; this was the only correlation that achieved statistical significance (p=0.004, chi-square). All other variables had no statistically-significant correlation to low visual acuity or to the need of conversion.

Considering the study sample, we can conclude that experienced surgeons can safely use topical anaesthesia in cases of different complexities. Our series included eyes with glaucoma, vitrectomised eyes, eyes with and without silicone oil, and eyes with capsular rupture.

The rate of complications was 4.5%, which is consistent with the literature and is comparable to the complication rates of other surgical techniques.⁽²¹⁾ The management of complications was done without the need of anaesthetic conversion.

Topical anaesthesia is an interesting, low-cost, safe, and comfortable alternative, even in more complex cases.

REFERÊNCIAS

• 1. Ezra DG, Allan BD. Topical anesthesia alone versus topical anaesthesia with intracamerallidocaine for phacoemulsification. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(3):CD005276. Review.
• 2. Ezra DG, Nambiar A, Allan BD. Supplementary intracamerallidocaine for phacoemulsification under topical anesthesia. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ophthalmology. 2008;115(3):455-87.
• 3. Malot J, Combe C, Moss A, Savary P, Hida H, Ligeon-Ligeonnet P. [Cost of cataract surgery in a public hospital]. J FrOphtalmol. 2011;34(1):10-6. French.
• ⁴
  The Royal College of Anaesthetists and The Royal College of Ophthalmologists,Local anaesthesia for intraocular surgery. London; 2001. Disponível em http://www.anestesiaclinic.net/documents/oft/Ophthalmologic%20Anesthesia%20Guidelines%20-%20RCARCO.pdf
• 5. Gupta SK, Kumar A, Kumar D, Agarwal S. Manual small incision cataract surgery under topical anesthesia with intracameral lignocaine: study on pain evaluation and surgical outcome. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2009;57(1):3-7. Comment in Indian J Ophthalmol. 2010;58(1):83-4; author reply 84.
• 6. Zhao LQ, Zhu H, Zhao PQ, Wu QR, Hu YQ. Topical anesthesia versus regional anesthesia for cataract surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Ophthalmology. 2012; 119(4):659-67.
• 7. Coelho RP, Weissheimer J, Romão E, Cruz AA. Comparação entre a dor provocada pela facoemulsificação com anestesia tópica e a pela infiltração peribulbar sem sedação.Arq Bras Oftalmol.2005;68(1):45-8
• 8. Ermisş SS, Öztürk F, Inan UU. Comparing the efficacy and safety of phacoemulsification in white mature and other types of senile cataracts.Br J Ophthalmol. 2003;87(11):1356-9.
• 9. Rand WJ, Stein SC, Velazquez GE. Rand-Stein analgesia protocol for cataract surgery.Ophthalmology. 2000;107(5):889-95.
• 10. The Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Local Anaesthesia for ophthalmic surgery: Joint guidelines from the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. London; 2012.Disponível em http://www.rcoa.ac.uk/node/2272
• 11. Ang CL, Au Eong KG, Lee SS, Chan SP, Tan CS. Patients' expectation and experience of visual sensations during phacoemulsification under topical anaesthesia. Eye (Lond). 2007;21(9):1162-7.
• 12. Rengaraj V, Radhakrishnan M, Au Eong KG, Saw SM, Srinivasan A, Mathew J, et al. Visual experience during phacoemulsification under topical versus retrobulbar anesthesia: results of a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.Am J Ophthalmol. 2004;138(5):782-7.
• 13. Walsh A, Pinheiro AP, Cordeiro Júnior A, Crema AS. Reflexo óculocardíaco em facoemulsificação. Anestesia tópica x anestesia peribulbar. RevBrasOftalmol. 2000;59(10):731-5.
• 14. Rezende F, Bernardes F. Anestesia tópica na facotranscorneana temporal (primeiros 50 casos). RevBrasOftalmol. 1996;55(10): 727-34.
• 15. Jacobi PC, Dietlein TS, Jacobi FK. A comparative study of topical vsretrobulbar anesthesia in complicated cataract surgery. Arch Ophthalmol. 2000;118(8):1037-43.
• 16. Jacobi PC, Dietlein TS, Jacobi FK. Cataract surgery under topical anesthesia in patients with coexisting glaucoma.J Cataract Refract Surg. 2001;27(8):1207-13.
• 17. Menapace R. Routine posterior optic buttonholing for eradication of posterior capsule opacification in adults: report of 500 consecutive cases.J Cataract Refract Surg. 2006;32(6):929-43. Erratum in J Cataract Refract Surg. 2006;32(9):1410. Comment in J Cataract Refract Surg. 2006;32(6):903-4.
• 18. Roman S, Pietrini D, Auclin F, Keller M, Ullern M. [Phacoemulsification and topical anesthesia.Apropos of 40 cases]. J FrOphtalmol.1996;19(1):32-8. French.
• 19. Weller A, Pham DT, Häberle H, Müller A, Cieschinger W, Ledergerber M. [Sponge anesthesia with intraocular lidocaineapplication in cataract surgery]. Ophthalmologe. 2000;97(1):51-3. German.
• 20. Fichman RA. Use of topical anesthesia alone in cataract surgery.J CataractRefractSurg. 1996;22(5):612-4.
• 21. Rezende MS, Sperb RR, Iramina E, Souza SB, Ribeiro LE, Dib O. Facoemulsificação sob anestesia tópica realizada por residentes do terceiro ano de Oftalmologia. RevBras Oftalmol. 2008;67(2):82-5.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  31 Oct 2013
• Date of issue
  June 2013

History

• Received
  19 June 2012
• Accepted
  11 Feb 2013