Spectral analysis of intraocular pressure pulse wave in ocular hypertensive and primary open angle glaucoma patients.

CONTEXT: In attempt to find an alternative way to determine conversion from ocular hypertension to primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) (besides visual field and optic disc changes), we analyzed intraocular pressure (IOP) pulse wave in spectral domain. AIMS: The aim of this study was to test the potential differences in spectral content of IOP pulse wave between ocular hypertension and POAG patients, which could indicate conversion. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study designed to test the differences in the spectral content of pressure pulse wave between nontreated ocular hypertensive and nontreated, freshly diagnosed POAG patients. METHODS: The total of 40 eyes of 40 subjects was included: 20 previously untreated ocular hypertensive patients, and 20 previously untreated POAG patients. Continuous IOP measuring gained by dynamic contour tonometry was submitted to fast Fourier transform signal analysis and further statistical data processing. Statistics Analysis Used: Ocular and systemic characteristics of the tested subjects were compared by analysis of variance appropriate for this study design. A P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Higher spectral components of the IOP pulse wave was discerned up to the fifth harmonic in both of the tested groups. No statistically significant differences were found in any of the tested harmonic amplitudes. CONCLUSIONS: There are no differences in the spectral content of IOP pulse wave between ocular hypertensive and primary open angle glaucoma patients which could be indicative for conversion.

Comparison of postoperative pain and satisfaction after dacryocystorhinostomy in patients operated on under local and general anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: There has been only 1 study on postoperative pain after external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) that compared pain between 2 groups of patients; 1 group received local anesthesia and the other received general anesthesia. To further characterize the relationship between these 2 types of anesthesia and postoperative pain, we designed a study in which a single patient received these 2 different anesthesia modalities for a short interval on 2 different sides. MATERIAL/METHODS: There were 50 participants in this study. External DCR was performed on the same participant on both sides using local anesthesia on 1 side and general anesthesia on the other. Postoperative pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and localization and timing of pain were reported by the participants. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were documented if present. RESULTS: Pain levels were significantly higher with general anesthesia 3 hours post-surgery, and 6 hours post-surgery the pain remains higher following general anesthesia but is borderline insignificant (p=0.051). However, 12 hours post-surgery, there is no significant difference in the pain level (p=0.240). There was no significant difference in the localization of pain with local and general anesthesia. Postoperative nausea is significantly more frequent after general anesthesia, and vomiting only occurs with general anesthesia. Local anesthesia was preferred by 94% of the participants (47 out of 50). CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of patients in our study who have undergone both GA and LA DCR would choose LA again, providing a compelling case for use of the LA technique.

Pain during external dacryocystorhinostomy with local anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: External dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is often performed under local anesthesia (LA) without adequate knowledge of the pain experienced by the patient. MATERIAL/METHODS: We subdivided our surgical technique into stages easily understood by the patients (introducing cotton tipped applicators, performing parabulbar injection, creating the incision, bone cracking (opening the ostium), manipulating the nose, intubating, closing the wound, and packing with gauze). A total of 50 patients ranging in age from 31 to 83 years of age (63.64±9.64) underwent external DCR. Each patient was asked 30 minutes after surgery to indicate the intensity of pain experienced at each stage of the surgery and during intramuscular (i.m.) injection of an antibiotic using a visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: Analysis of the VAS-based pain scores indicated 3 statistically equal occurrences of pain coinciding with the opening of the ostium, and receiving both parabulbar anesthetic and i.m. antibiotic injections. CONCLUSIONS: The level of pain experienced during the most unpleasant stage of external DCR (ostium opening) was similar to the pain experienced from an i.m. injection. Patients can be informed that pain during external DCR with local anesthesia is comparable to receiving an i.m. gluteal injection.