Evolving Use of Regional versus General Anesthesia for the Surgical Repair of Open Globe Injuries

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the current study is to report outcomes with the evolving use of regional anesthesia with monitored anesthesia care (RA-MAC) vs general anesthesia (GA) in the repair of open globe injuries.

Design: Retrospective, consecutive, comparative, nonrandomized clinical study.

Methods: The study includes 507 eyes of 507 patients with open globe injuries treated with either RA-MAC or GA at a tertiary referral center between 2015 and 2020. There was no predetermined protocol for selection of anesthesia method. However, based on experience and findings of prior research by this group, regional anesthesia with monitored anesthesia care was typically selected initially and changed to general anesthesia if warranted after evaluation of the patient and discussion with the surgeon. The main outcome measure was visual acuity at last follow-up. Results were compared to previously published study groups between 1995 and 2014.

Results: Primary closure of open globe injury was performed under RA-MAC anesthesia in 462 patients (91%) and under GA in 45 patients (9%). Zone 1, 2, and 3 injuries were recorded in 251, 170, and 86 patients, respectively. Zone 1 (96%, 240 of 251 patients) or zone 2 (92%, 156 of 170 patients) (P < .001) were more likely to be repaired under RA-MAC vs zone 3 injuries (76%, 65 of 86 patients). The improvement from presenting visual acuity was similar for the 2 anesthesia groups, 0.52 logMAR and 0.46 logMAR for RA-MAC and GA, respectively (P = .68, CI -0.3 to 0.2). The use of RA-MAC anesthesia for open globe injuries has increased at our institution from 64% in 1995-1999 to 91% in the present study, 2015-2020 (P < .00001).

Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that with anesthesiologists experienced in ophthalmic regional anesthesia techniques, and appropriate case selection, RA-MAC can be safely used as an alternative to general anesthesia for open globe repair. Considerations when employing RA-MAC include a patient's ability to cooperate, position, and communicate for the duration of the globe repair.