BLOCKADE OF THE PTERYGOPALATINE GANGLION AS A COMPONENT OF COMBINED ANESTHESIA DURING SURGERY FOR CONGENITAL CATARACT

The purpose of combined anesthesia in surgical treatment for congenital cataracts in children is, in addition to providing adequate analgesia of the intra- and postoperative period, to decrease adverse reactions and functional-anatomical changes in eye structure. Objective: The goal of the study is to assess the effectiveness of blockade of the pterygopalatine fossa as a component of combined anesthesia in surgical treatment for congenital cataracts in children. Material and Methods: The study included 52 children operated for congenital cataracts. The patients were divided into 2 groups. In the first group (n=26) anesthesia was carried out on the base of sevoflurane in combination with a pterygopalatine blockade as a regional component, the distinctive feature of the second group (n=28) was the implementation of retrobulbar blockade. The effectiveness of the methods was evaluated by a comparative analysis of hemodynamic parameters, the index of the tension of the vegetative system, the level of cortisol in the blood plasma, the assessment of the intensity of pain on the verbal rating scale, as well as the surgeon’s definition of the degree of comfort of the operative intervention. Results and conclusion: The data received show that the use of blockade of the vascular nodule as a component of combined anesthesia in the surgery for congenital cataracts in children allows to provide adequate anesthesia, to reduce the sympathetic activity during the operation, to create prolonged anesthesia in the postoperative period and create favorable conditions for the surgeon’s work.

congenital cataracts combined anesthesia, pterygopalatine blockade