Topical sevoflurane corneal toxicity: in vitro study

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to investigate the cytotoxic effect of sevoflurane (SF) and povidone‐iodine (PI) on cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells in vitro. Methods: We evaluated the cytotoxic effect of a 5 min exposition of SF, PI and balanced saline solution (BSS) using an in vitro rabbit corneal cell culture model (Short‐Time Exposure Test Method). In order to quantify cytotoxicity MTT assay was employed. Repeated exposition of SF was evaluated as well as cell viability after different recovery times (30 min, 60 min and 1 h). Statistical results were obtained with Kruskal‐Wallis test and Conover post‐hoc test. Results: The median of cell viability of SF was 85.29%, PI 0.52% and BSS 97.29%, with statistically significant differences between them (p = 0.005). After a 5 minute recovery, the median of cell viability for SF was 87.77%, 74.48% after 30 minutes and 76.66% after 60 minutes. After a double exposition it was 70.59%, with no statistically significant differences between single and double exposition (p = 0.18). Conclusions: No corneal toxicity of SF was observed, in contrast with PI. Cellular damage did not change with longer recovery time or double exposition to SF. References Sevoflurane (SF) has been proved recently to have analgesic/antimicrobial effects. (1, 2) We believe of interest to study the effect of SF in the ocular surface. As there is no literature about this topic, in vitro studies are required before in vivo tests. 1. Chu CC, Wu SZ, Su WL, Shieh JP, Kao CH, Ho ST, et al. Subcutaneous injection of inhaled anaesthetics produces cutaneous analgesia. Can J Anesth Can Anesth. 2008;55(5):290–4. 2. Manuel Gerónimo Pardo, María Martínez Serrano, Ángel Martínez Monsalve, Juan Luis Rueda Martínez. Usos Alternativos del Sevoflurano: Efecto Analgésico Tópico. Rev Electrónica AnestesiaR [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2019 Apr 15];4(5). Available from: http://revistaanestesiar.org/index.php/rear/article/view/373