CATARACT EXTRACTIONS WITHOUT TRACHEAL INTUBATION

Following a retrospective study of opthalmic complications after cataract extractions a planned study of 135 cases was conducted to compare the complication rates when general anaesthesia was administered with and without tracheal intubation. General anaesthesia without intubation was conducted through an oropharyn-geal airway with an airway adaptor for the circuit tubes. A chin support was provided by use of an 18-inch-long strip of adhesive plaster, split for 6 inches to form a Y; the stem of the Y-plaster was anchored to the head of the table and the limbs under the chin. Two anaesthetic circuits were studied including arterial blood gas analyses.