Evaluation of single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery under conscious sedation

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and stability of ocular alignment after single-stage adjustable strabismus surgery (SSASS) performed under topical anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients of concomitant exodeviations were randomized into three groups of 15 cases each and were operated with three different techniques: Group I - conventional surgery, Group II - two-stage adjustable suture technique with suture adjustment performed 6h postoperatively and Group III- SSASS under topical anesthesia and intravenous conscious sedation with midazolam and fentanyl. Intraoperative suture adjustment was done by giving a cross target to the patient on the ceiling at the end of the procedure. Surgical results were compared among the three groups at three months follow-up. Intraoperative hemodynamic parameters and patients' experience of the surgery (by questionnaire) were also compared. RESULTS: Mean preoperative deviation for distance in Groups I, II, III was −41.67 prism diopter (pd) ±9.0, −38.93 pd ±11.05 and −41.87 pd ±8.91 (P=0.6) respectively. At three months, mean correction achieved for distance was +31.87 pd ±11.71, +35.47 pd ±10.86 and +42.80 pd ±10.71 respectively which was significantly different between Group III and Group I (P =0.03). Intraoperatively all hemodynamic parameters remained stable and comparable (P=0.5) in all groups. Intraoperative pain (P<0.001) and time taken for surgery (P<0.001) was more in the SSASS group. Amount of exodrift was 10-12 pd, comparable in all three groups (P = 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: SSASS, performed under topical anesthesia, is safe and has better outcomes than conventional recession-resection surgery for concomitant exodeviation. An overcorrection of about 10-12 pd is recommended to check the exodrift and achieve stable alignment.