• G H Botz, J Miser, S Hoopes, S Zweig, and J G Brock-Utne.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
• J Clin Anesth. 1996 Dec 1;8(8):631-3.

Study ObjectiveTo study the safety of instillation of eyedrops prior to ophthalmic surgery, which may potentially affect myocardial function, using continuous ST segment recording.DesignProspective study.SettingAmbulatory surgery preoperative area at a university hospital.Patients30 nonpremedicated ASA status III adults (aged 73 to 92 years) scheduled for cataract surgery with monitored anesthesia care (MAC).InterventionsAll patients were given ophthalmic drugs consisting of phenylephrine 2.5%, flubiprofen 0.03%, mydriacyl 1%, and cyclopentolate 1%.Measurements And Main ResultsST segments were continuously monitored after the instillation of the eyedrops for a period of up to 15 minutes. A change of 2 mm or more in ST segments from baseline was considered significant. Results showed no significant change in ST segment. No patient reported any new cardiac symptoms or showed any evidence of dysrhythmias or hemodynamic changes.ConclusionsThe lack of significant finding most likely reflects the safety of these ophthalmic drops in their present dilute concentration, but it is also possible that the software and/or monitors used were not sensitive enough in their current configuration to detect possible subtle changes. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that the preoperative ophthalmic drugs used in our institution do not seem to have any adverse cardiovascular effects in this elderly patient population who are about to undergo cataract surgery with MAC.

41 keywords...

hide…