Evaluation of Patient Comfort with Outpatient Orbital Surgery

Abstract

This study suggests that outpatient orbital surgery, in the hands of an experienced orbital surgeon, is safe and well tolerated by the patients regardless of the type of anesthesia or type of procedure.

Infraorbital Nerve Block for Isolated Orbital Floor Fractures Repair

“…Nonetheless, the data collected are slightly lower than other previously published data regarding general orbital surgery performed under general anesthesia. 18 Somehow this last point gives further support to the present work in addition to the lower rate of surgical revision deriving from the management of orbital floor fractures repair under local anesthesia.…”

“…I would have felt more comfortable if I had stayed one night more, but it worked out fine.” None of the patients selected: “I should have stayed one night more in the hospital, I was in considerable pain and discomfort at home.” All patients reported that they were “satisfied with the overall experience.” According to previous studies, satisfaction is driven by the difference or discordance between expectation and experience and patients who were extremely anxious and not bothered with surgery would be more satisfied than those who were not concerned and extremely bothered. 18 …”

“…From the present retrospective review, the complication rate following orbital floor fracture repair under regional anesthesia with conscious sedation when necessary is comparable to the result obtained under general anesthesia in our Level I Trauma Center and in the literature. 1,3,5,7,17,18,20,23 However, the decreased reoperative rate for surgical repair under local anesthesia compared to that under general anesthesia was not statically significant ( P > 0.05). Topical injections and nerve blocks render insensitivity to pain in the affected area only.…”

“…Rather, most articles focus on the surgical outcome. 18–22 Diplopia, enophthalmos, and limited extraocular movements are indications for surgical treatment. Although diplopia is present in most cases, it can resolve within a few days with the resolution of traumatic edema, muscle contusions, and neuropraxia, with the exception of an actual entrapment of the inferior rectus muscle or of the periorbital tissue.…”

“…There was no reason for me to stay longer in the hospital”; 2—“I was concerned about leaving the hospital the day after surgery. I would have felt more comfortable if I had stayed one night more, but it worked out fine”; 3—“I should have stayed one night more, I was in considerable pain and discomfort at home.” Similarly, at 1 week postoperatively, each patient was asked if they were satisfied or not with their overall experience and the 2 possible responses were 1) “I was completely satisfied” and 2) “I was dissatisfied.” 18 …”