A comparative study of sodium bicarbonate and hyaluronidase on pain perception, anesthesia, and akinesia during peribulbar anesthesia for cataract surgery

Abstract

Background:An ideal anesthetic solution should provide good anesthesia and akinesia with minimal pain on injection.Aims:The aim of this study is to determine the effect on pain perception and efficacy of sodium bicarbonate over hyaluronidase in the local anesthetic mixture during peribulbar anesthesia.Settings and Design:A prospective, randomized, double-blind study.Materials and Methods:An independent observer labeled two injections as A (hyaluronidase 1500 IU in 30 mL of lignocaine) and B (7.5% sodium bicarbonate 1 mL in 30 mL of lignocaine). Group 1 was injected with injection A while Group 2 was injected with injection B. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to determine the intensity of pain. Onset and degree of anesthesia and akinesia were recorded.Statistical Analysis:Computer software Microsoft Excel SPSS version 26 (Chicago Inc) for windows was used. The qualitative data and quantitative data were reported as proportions and mean ± (standard deviation), respectively. Chi-square test for proportions was used for the comparison of qualitative variables and unpaired Student's t-test was used to test the significance between quantitative variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All P were two-tailed.Results:Out of 123 patients, 23 were excluded from the study. Hundred patients were divided into Group 1 and Group 2. The mean age in Group 1 was 64.92 ± 10.77 years while in Group 2 was 62.86 ± 11.17 years. The mean heart rate and mean systolic blood pressure in both groups were statistically insignificant. Group 2 experienced very less pain (mean pain score VAS = 5.12 ± 1.17) as compared to Group 1 (mean pain score was 7.16 ± 1.09) and the difference between both the groups was found to be statistically significant. There was a significant difference in the onset of anesthesia in both groups (P = 0.001). In the sodium bicarbonate group, the onset was faster. The onset of akinesia was better in Group 1 (4.76 ± 2.06 min). Grading of akinesia was better in Group 1.Conclusion:Sodium bicarbonate reduces pain on injection in peribulbar anesthesia and also results in a quicker onset of anesthesia.