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Factors independently associated with increased risk of pain development after ophthalmic surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2004

D. Henzler ,
R. Kramer ,
U. H. Steinhorst ,
S. Piepenbrock ,
R. Rossaint  and
R. Kuhlen
D. Henzler
Affiliation:
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Department of Anaesthesiology I, Hannover, Germany Universitätsklinikum, Department of Anaesthesiology, Aachen, Germany
R. Kramer
Affiliation:
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Department of Anaesthesiology I, Hannover, Germany
U. H. Steinhorst
Affiliation:
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Department of Anaesthesiology I, Hannover, Germany Dr.-Horst-Schmidt-Kliniken, Department of Ophthalmolgy, Wiesbaden, Germany
S. Piepenbrock
Affiliation:
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Department of Anaesthesiology I, Hannover, Germany
R. Rossaint
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum, Department of Anaesthesiology, Aachen, Germany
R. Kuhlen
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum, Department of Anaesthesiology, Aachen, Germany
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Abstract

Summary

Background and objective: Little has been documented about the development of pain after ophthalmic surgery. This study was designed to assess the incidence and severity of postoperative pain following ophthalmic surgery, and to identify key factors independently associated with development of such pain.

Methods: In a prospective, observational cohort study, 500 patients undergoing elective ophthalmic surgery were examined by assessing numerical analogue scales and analgesic requirements.

Results: Depending on anatomical location of surgery, operations could be classified into creating ‘more severe’ or ‘less severe pain’. Patients undergoing posterior segment, corneal and muscle surgery exhibited the highest numerical analogue scale scores (risk ratio 4.5, 95% CI 3.01–6.79, P < 0.0001). Anterior segment surgery, which per se did not create much pain, resulted in significantly more pain when performed under general anaesthesia compared to regional anaesthesia (risk ratio 6.52, 95% CI 2.33–18.2, P < 0.0001). No other factors independently associated with an increased risk of developing serious postoperative pain could be identified.

Conclusions: Patients undergoing certain ophthalmic operations, especially if performed under general anaesthesia, are more likely to experience serious postoperative pain.

Keywords

ANAESTHESIA, GENERALANAESTHESIA, REGIONAL, retrobulbarPOSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS, PAIN, postoperative, measurementSURGICAL PROCEDURES, ophthalmological
Type
Original Article
Information
European Journal of Anaesthesiology , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , February 2004 , pp. 101 - 106
Copyright
2004 European Society of Anaesthesiology

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