[Propofol and retrobulbar anesthesia for cataract extraction]. / Propofol y anestesia retrobulbar para extracción de cataratas.

We divided 80 patients undergoing cataract surgery into two groups of 40: one control group and one propofol group to whom 1-1.5 mg/kg of propofol was administered before retrobulbar anesthesia. The following parameters were recorded before and after retrobulbar anesthesia: systolic and diastolic arterial pressure (SAP and DAP), heart rate (HR) and finally arterial oxygen saturation through pulse oximetry. Pain was also measured on the Scott-Huskisson visual analog scale. For patients in the control group a rise in arterial pressure over baseline values after 5 minutes (p < 0.01) was observed, while a decrease was found in the propofol group (p < 0.01). The rise after 5 minutes in the control group was significant when compared with the measurements for the propofol group (p < 0.01). The pain measure for the control group reached 5.53 +/- 1.54 on the Scott-Huskisson scale, but was 0 in the propofol group. Measurements on the pain scale correlated positively with diastolic arterial pressure 5 minutes after blockade in the control group (p < 0.05). The technique studied affords greater comfort for the patient, presents no special difficulties for the anesthesiologist performing the retrobulbar blockade, and causes no complications.

[Comparative study in pediatric inhalation anesthesia. Clinical characteristics and anesthetic complications with halothane and isoflurane]. / Estudio comparativo en anestesia inhalatoria pediátrica. Características clínicas y complicaciones anestésicas con halotano e isoflurano.

OBJECTIVES: Comparative study of clinical characteristics and complications during induction, maintenance, and recovery in pediatric inhalational anesthesia between two commonly used fluoride agents (halothane and isoflurane). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 66 children aged 1 month to 13 years undergoing general anesthesia for short lasting surgery who were divided into two groups of 33 patients each one: Isoflurane group and halothane group. Induction and maintenance anesthesia was performed with the corresponding inhalant agent. Parameters measured were duration of unconsciousness, time elapsed for intubation and recovery, heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and incidence of complications. RESULTS: Children anesthetized with isoflurane showed a shorter period of unconsciousness (1.55 +/- 0.11 min) than those anesthetized with halothane (1.91 +/- 0.12 min); whereas that the time required for intubation was significantly more prolonged (8.94 +/- 0.51 and 6.57 +/- 0.32 min, respectively). The incidence of complications was higher in the isoflurane group, mainly expressed as laryngeal spasm during the induction period. Both groups of patients showed a similar hemodynamic behaviour, although diastolic arterial pressure during maintenance anesthesia was significantly lower with isoflurane. Anesthesia recovery was faster and more predictable with isoflurane than with halothane. CONCLUSIONS: Anesthetic agent isoflurane is less appropriate than halothane for induction in pediatric anesthesia due to a high incidence of complications, specially laryngeal spasm.