COMPARISON OF ETIDOCAINE AND BUPIVACAINE PLUS LIDOCAINE IN RETROBULBAR ANESTHESIA

Etidocaine (15 mg/ml) was compared with bupivacaine (5 mg/ml) combined with lidocaine (10 mg/ml) in retrobulbar anaesthesia, One hundred and twelve patients were randomised into two groups. Supplemental anaesth esia was needed in 41% of cases of the etidocaine group and 32% of the bupivacaine-lidocaine group. Akinesia was evaluated by the surgeon bo th pre- and postoperatively and was found to be good or complete in mo re than 95% of both groups. Recovery from the motor and sensory block was investigated three times during the first 24 postoperative hours, The motor block of the orbicular muscle disappeared earlier than that of the globe. Akinesia lasted significantly longer in the etidocaine g roup than in the bupivacaine-lidocaine group: after 14 h 69% vs 100%, respectively, of the eyes showed normal movements, Sensation in the co rnea was also regained more rapidly in patients treated with the mixtu re.