Fentanyl Versus Ketorolac as an Adjuvant to Peribulbar Block for Anterior Segment Surgeries

Regional anesthesia for eye surgery includes peribulbar, retrobulbar, and sub-Tenon's blocks. Peribulbar block is commonly used due to a lesser incidence of serious complications such as globe perforation and retrobulbar hemorrhage.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid widely used as an adjuvant to local anesthetics to prolong its action and provide better postoperative analgesia. fentanyl fastens lid and globe akinesia and provides a better akinesia score.

Ketorolac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces the release of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins, thereby reducing afferent sensitivities and finally reducing pain. It is devoid of narcotic analgesic adverse effects such as sedation, nausea, and respiratory depression.

Inclusion criteria

• Age over 18 years old.
• Both sexes.
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III.
• Scheduled to undergo operations for anterior segment surgeries of the eye under local (peribulbar) anesthesia.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient's refusal.
• Known allergy or hypersensitivity to aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
• Patients with contraindications to local anesthetics, such as high axial length or patients with high preoperative intraocular pressure.
• If cases develop severe pain intraoperatively from the start, necessitating rescue analgesia and sedation or requiring conversion to general anesthesia.
• Infection at the site of injection.
• Patients with coagulopathies or on anticoagulants.
• Impaired renal function.