EFFECTS OF RETROBULBAR BUPIVACAINE ON POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AND NAUSEA IN RETINAL-DETACHMENT SURGERY

A prospective double-masked clinical trial was conducted to determine whether retrobulbar bupivacaine block had an effect on post-operative pain, nausea and intra- and post-operative use af analgesics in retina l detachment surgery performed under general anaesthesia. Thirty-two p atients were randomized to have general anaesthesia with or without re trobulbar bupivacaine. Pain score was documented as 0-10 (0 = no pain. 10 = worst pain ever felt). Post-operative pain score was significant ly lower in the retrobulbar block group during the first post-operativ e hours than in the control group. Men complained more about post-oper ative pain than did women. The patients in the retrobulbar group compl ained less about nausea. Significantly fewer patients in the retrobulb ar group required parenteral pain relief during operation and the firs t 48 h after.