Adjunctive sub-Tenon’s block to general anaesthesia in VR surgery V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effect of sub-Tenon’s local anaesthetic block on perioperative and postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing vitreoretinal surgery under general anaesthesia.
IRAS ID
231289
Contact name
Aman Chandra
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
With this study we aim to investigate the possible benefit from the adjunctive use of sub Tenon’s anaesthetic block to general anaesthesia during vitreoretinal surgical procedures in reducing the perioperative use of analgesia and postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting in patients. \nSub Tenon’s block involves direct delivery of anaesthetic in the sub Tenon’s anatomical space posterior to the globe with a blunt cannula. It is accepted as a safer alternative to other forms of needle blocks. We believe this practise has multiple benefits for the patient and the surgeon. Vitreoretinal surgery produces highly variable levels of stimulation ranging from the trivial to the extreme and changing minute by minute. It is often difficult to titrate anaesthesia and analgesia with sufficient feedback precision in such a dynamic system. Consequently, this may result in large swings in blood pressure or an increased opioid requirement, which might contribute to postoperative nausea and vomiting. Sub Tenon’s block in addition to general anaesthesia reduces the above mentioned variation leading to more stable patients during surgery and more comfortable patients postoperatively, due to the absence of opioid induced nausea and vomiting. Operated eyes are also expected to experience less postoperative pain when Sub Tenon’s anaesthetic block is performed. \nThe consequent expected benefit to the organisation will be reduced use of perioperative analgesia and quicker patient recovery from the effects of general anaesthesia.\nAll patients aged 30-75 years who are eligible for vitreoretinal surgery under general anaesthesia can be included in the study, which is going to be conducted in the SUH Ophthalmology Department. We aim to recruit 60 patients during the next two years. They will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (Added local anaesthetic or placebo) which will subsequently be compared for differences in the above mentioned expected outcomes.
REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/2087
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion