GENERAL ANAESTHESIA VERSUS LOCAL ANAESTHESIA IN SENILE CATARACT SURGERY

Abstract

We have always believed that general anaesthesia pro­ vides for the surgeon and the patient a wider margin of safety during intraocular surgery than is possible with local anaes­ thesia . This is because the anaesthetist is able to control the choroidal blood flow with positive pressure hyperventilation during the surgical procedure ,and hence maintain a desirably soft and still eye . Despite this belief , which is widely held , local anaesthesia provides a number of advantages over gen­ eral . There are fewer metabolic changes and , in particular , a reduction in systemic complications such as post operative confusion , postural hypotension , and vomiting . It allows earlier mobilization , which is especially desirable in an eld­ erly population and has facilitaled the development of day case surgery .