[Effect of locally applied lidocaine on expression of the oculocardiac reflex].

INTRODUCTION: The oculocardiac reflex causes severe bradycardic arrhythmias and is a frequent complication during surgical manipulation at the medial rectus muscle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of lidocaine administered topically on the muscle on the incidence of the oculocardiac reflex.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: After obtaining informed consent, 140 patients with strabism or retinal surgery were included in this study. All patients received standard premedication and anesthesia and were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients (n = 70) randomly assigned to the first group received 1 mg/kg lidocaine applied topically to the muscle after opening the conjunctiva. Individuals in the placebo group received the same volume of saline (0.9%). Surgical stimulation occurred 5 min after administration of the drug. The study parameters (blood pressure/heart rate) were recorded before and after stimulation of the oculocardiac reflex caused by routine surgical preparation.

RESULTS: Topical administration of lidocaine reduced the incidence of the oculocardiac reflex (86.1% vs 37.1%), and the frequency of severe bradycardiac arrhythmias was also significantly reduced (40 vs. 2.9%). Cardiac arrest for longer than 10 s did not occur in the lidocaine group. In the control group this phenomenon was observed in 14.8%.