AB104. The choice of anaesthetic technique for cataract surgery

Abstract

Background: Our study examined the choice of anaesthetic technique employed for cataract surgeries in the University Hospital Limerick. We looked at the number of cataract surgeries performed using the Sub-Tenon’s block technique and compared it to other methods such as peribulbar and General Anaesthesia. Sub-Tenon’s block is one of the most common techniques of orbital regional anaesthesia. It has been shown to provide effective anaesthesia to the orbit with a low incidence of sight-threatening complications when compared to sharp needle techniques. However, other methods of anaesthesia are often employed. Our study aimed to evaluate the choice of anaesthesia technique for Cataract Surgery at the University Hospital Limerick. Previous research has indicated substantial national and international variation in anaesthesia management strategies for cataract surgery. The most common forms of local anaesthesia include injection techniques (peribulbar, Sub-Tenon’s) while occasionally general anaesthesia is used. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the choice of anaesthetic technique for cataract surgery carried out in an Irish hospital setting.