Effects of Lidocaine on Reducing the Need for Anesthetic Drugs during Ophthalmologic Surgeries

The most common postoperative complications are pain، vomiting، and nausea. They may in turn lead to other complications such as wound damage. On the other hand، the use of opioid analgesics has unwanted effects on patients. This study evaluated the effects of intravenous infusion of lidocaine on the need for anesthetics during the operation and analgesics after the operation in patients undergoing ophthalmologic surgeries.

This clinical trial study was performed in Feiz Hospital (Isfahan، Iran) during 2011. Overall، 80 patients who were scheduled for eye surgery under general anesthesia were selected and randomly allocated to two groups to be infused with either intravenous lidocaine or placebo during the operation. Pain، nausea، and vomiting were assessed every 15 minutes in the recovery room. Visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to measure the mentioned parameters. Finally، the collected data was analyzed with SPSS.

The mean dose of analgesics in the lidocaine and placebo groups was 6. 25 ± 11. 00 and 9. 65 ± 14. 5 mg/kg، respectively (P = 0. 22). Based on the VAS، the intensity of vomiting was 1. 09 ± 2. 70 in the lidocaine group and 1. 75 ± 3. 60 in the placebo group (P > 0. 05).

According to our findings، intravenous administration of lidocaine during eye surgeries cannot effectively reduce pain and postoperative complications. However، since it decreased the need for anesthetics during the operation، it can be recommended for ophthalmologic surgeries under general anesthesia. Nevertheless، more research in this field is warranted.