Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
The effect of topical tetracaine eye drops on emergence behavior and pain relief after strabismus surgery.
Pediatric strabismus surgery may be associated with postoperative nausea, vomiting, and emergence agitation (restlessness, thrashing, crying, moaning, disorientation). We hypothesize that emergence agitation after strabismus surgery is in part related to pain and that topical tetracaine ophthalmic drops can decrease the intensity and incidence of postoperative pain and emergence agitation. ⋯ Postoperative strabismus surgery pain was improved by the use of preoperative, and pre- and postoperative, tetracaine drops. Emergence agitation was not fully evaluated by the behavioral scale, and therefore, the effect of tetracaine drops on emergence agitation was not clarified. This study suggests that tetracaine drops can lead to a less stressful early postoperative experience for the patient.