Sub-tenon's block in cataract surgery a comparison of 2% articaine and a mixture of 2% lignocaine and 0.5% bupivacaine

ABSTRACT

Articaine is a novel amide local anaesthetic with a shorter duration of action than prilocaine. Sub-Tenon's anaesthesia arguably provides a safer method of anesthetic delivery for cataract surgery. In our study we compared 2% articaine with mixture of 2% lignocaine and 0.5% bupivacaine through sub-Tenon's block for cataract surgery. 60 ASA [American Society of Anesthesiologists] I-III patients were selected for comparison and allocated in two equal groups in randomized double-blinded study. We found that sub-Tenon's block using articaine 2% resulted in a more rapid onset of motor block than lidocaine / bupivacaine mixture [mean time to readiness for surgery was 3.3 +/- 2.4 [SD] min. in articaine group vs. 5.1 +/- 3.2 [SD] min. in lidocaine/bupivacaine group [p=0.0077]. Ocular movement scores were significantly lower from 2 min. after injection until the end of surgery p = 0.021 [p articaine 2% is safe and effective in sub-Tenon's block for cataract surgery and is a suitable and more convenient single drug alternative to the traditional mixture of 2% lignocaine and 0.5% bupivacaine