A Comparative Study of Sodium Bicarbonate and Hyaluronidase on Pain Perception, Anesthesia, and Akinesia during Peribulbar Anesthesia for Cataract Surgery

BACKGROUND: An ideal anesthetic solution should provide good anesthesia and akinesia with minimal pain on injection. AIMS: The aim of this study is to determine the effect on pain perception and efficacy of sodium bicarbonate over hyaluronidase in the local anesthetic mixture during peribulbar anesthesia. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An independent observer labeled two injections as A (hyaluronidase 1500 IU in 30 mL of lignocaine) and B (7.5% sodium bicarbonate 1 mL in 30 mL of lignocaine). Group 1 was injected with injection A while Group 2 was injected with injection B. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to determine the intensity of pain. Onset and degree of anesthesia and akinesia were recorded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Computer software Microsoft Excel SPSS version 26 (Chicago Inc) for windows was used. The qualitative data and quantitative data were reported as proportions and mean ± (standard deviation), respectively. Chi-square test for proportions was used for the comparison of qualitative variables and unpaired Student's t-test was used to test the significance between quantitative variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All P were two-tailed. RESULTS: Out of 123 patients, 23 were excluded from the study. Hundred patients were divided into Group 1 and Group 2. The mean age in Group 1 was 64.92 ± 10.77 years while in Group 2 was 62.86 ± 11.17 years. The mean heart rate and mean systolic blood pressure in both groups were statistically insignificant. Group 2 experienced very less pain (mean pain score VAS = 5.12 ± 1.17) as compared to Group 1 (mean pain score was 7.16 ± 1.09) and the difference between both the groups was found to be statistically significant. There was a significant difference in the onset of anesthesia in both groups (P = 0.001). In the sodium bicarbonate group, the onset was faster. The onset of akinesia was better in Group 1 (4.76 ± 2.06 min). Grading of akinesia was better in Group 1. CONCLUSION: Sodium bicarbonate reduces pain on injection in peribulbar anesthesia and also results in a quicker onset of anesthesia.