RESUMEN
To compare loco-regional anaesthesia alone and its combination with conscious sedation using intravenous propofol infusion, in terms of patient satisfaction following cataract surgery. Randomized controlled trial Conducted in operation theatre complex of Combined Military Hospital Multan during April 2006 to April 2007. One hundred outpatients [n=100], who met inclusion criteria and were scheduled for cataract surgery under loco-regional anaesthesia [Retrobulbar block along with topical anaesthesia], were randomly allocated to group "A" and "B" of 50 patients each. In group A [n=50], patients were also provided conscious sedation using intravenous propofol infusion titrated to the desired effect. While group B [n=50] patients were not provided any sedation in addition to loco-regional anaesthesia. Patient satisfaction of both the groups was assessed by filling a questionnaire, using scoring system modified from Iowa Satisfaction with Anaesthesia Scale [ISAS] at the time of discharge from the hospital. Mean ISAS score of patients in Group A [n=50] was found significantly higher [23.26 +/- 9.52] than mean ISAS score of patients of group B [18.56 +/- 11.20]. Comparison depicted statistically significant difference as the p value was 0.026 [< 0.05]. Conscious sedation with Propofol infusion provided higher patient satisfaction after cataract surgery under loco-regional anaesthesia when compared to surgery under loco-regional anaesthesia alone, as measured by ISAS score. Propofol infusion is recommended to be a novel technique for conscious sedation in outpatient cataract surgery because of propofol's excellent pharmacokinetic profile