Preoperative ropivacaine injection is beneficial in pars plana vitrectomy

Administering an injection of 5 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine before pars plana vitrectomy reduces postoperative discomfort in patients, reveals an investigation in the journal Retina.

The study, led by Dr Carl-Ludwig Schönfeld, Augenklinik Herzog Carl Theodor, Munich, Germany, included 60 patients each randomly assigned 0.75% ropivacaine with 75 IU of hyaluronidase as peribulbar injection of 1, 3, or 5 mL pre- or 5 mL postoperatively. There were also 30 control patients who didn’t receive any additional analgesic treatment, Both groups were compared 1, 3 and 24 hours postoperatively.

The control group experienced a higher rate of postoperative pain, compared to those in the ropivacine group. The 5 mL dosage of ropivacine was the most effective pain reliever, compared to the 1 mL or 3 mL injection. The injections provide a benefit in analgesic demand and postoperative discomfort.