Efficacy and Safety of Retrobulbar Blockade of 0.5% Ropivacaine During Eyeball Enucleation Surgery in Children with Retinoblastoma

Introduction. Retinoblastoma (RB) is a malignant tumor of the embryonic nerve retina. Purpose. To determine the effectiveness of retrobulbar blockade (RbB) with ropivacaine 0.5% for intra- and postoperative analgesia, as well as for the prevention of oculocardial reflex (OCR), postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) during enucleation. Material and methods. A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial was performed. Eighty patients aged 0 to 10 years were included, who were randomly assigned to the RbB group (retrobulbar blockade with ropivacaine 0.5% with general anesthesia) N = 40 and the GA control group (general anesthesia) N = 40. Results. There were no complications in the RbB group caused by the methodology. In the intraoperative period, the average dose of fentanyl in the RbB group was 4.7 ± 0.7 μg / kg, which is significantly lower than in the OA group of 10.1 ± 1.9 μg / kg (P <0.05). OCR in the RbB group was observed in 5% of cases versus 100% in the GA group (P = 0.002). The average VAS score was 1.8 vs. 3.7 60 minutes after surgery (P <0.001). For the first time 12 hours after surgery, PONV was not observed in the RBB group, and in the control group it was observed in 45% of patients. Conclusions. The study revealed that intraoperative retrobulbar blockade with 0.5% ropivacaine solution in children with RB is effective and safe. Provides stable intraoperative hemodynamics and reduces the need for opioids. Promotes the prevention of OCD and PONV, as well as the improvement of postoperative analgesia during the operation of enucleation of the eyeball in pediatric. Key words: ropivacaine, retrobulbar block, oculocardial reflex, pain, retinoblastoma, enucleation, pediatric patients.