Comparison of etidocaine and bupivacaine + lidocaine in retrobulbar anaesthesia

Etidocaine (15 mg/ml) was compared with bupivacaine (5 mg/ml) combined with lidocaine (10 mg/ml) in retrobulbar anaesthesia. One hundred and twelve patients were randomised into two groups. Supplemental anaesthesia was needed in 41% of cases of the etidocaine group and 32% of the bupivacaine-lidocaine group. Akinesia was evaluated by the surgeon both pre- and postoperatively and was found to be good or complete in more than 95% of both groups. Recovery from the motor and sensory block was investigated three times during the first 24 postoperative hours. The motor block of the orbicular muscle disappeared earlier than that of the globe. Akinesia lasted significantly longer in the etidocaine group than in the bupivacaine-lidocaine group: after 14 h 69% vs 100%, respectively, of the eyes showed normal movements. Sensation in the cornea was also regained more rapidly in patients treated with the mixture.