Oculocardiac Reflex During Strabismus Surgery

ABSTRACT

We perfomed this study to evaluate the incidence of the oculocardiac reflex(OCR) and its difference relative to each extraocular muscles. In addition, preventive methods for oculocardiac reflex were also evaluated. From Febrary 1997 to January 1998, we examined the occurrence of the OCR of 65 patients who underwent strabismus surgery in 123 extraocular muscles under the general anesthesia. Those who showed severe OCR were prepared with retrobulbar injection of 1% lidocaine 2cc or 1% intravenous atropine and observed wheather OCR was prevented. The overall incidence of the OCR was 66.2% and there was no significant difference between the incidence in both eyes(p>0.999). The incidence in each of the extraocular muscles did not show statistically significance when the patients were prepared with preoperative intramuscular atropine(p=0.018). The incidence after intraoperative retrobulbar injection or intravenous atropine was decreased to 27.3% but was not statistically significant(p=0.34).