Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXI
Written by Andra ENACHE, Pip BOYDELL, Iuliana IONAŞCU, Alexandru ŞONEA
This report describes conjunctival ballooning as a result of subconjunctival accumulation of the injected fluid following retrobulbar block for intraocular surgery in the dog. A prospective study was conducted on seventeen cataract procedures in dogs of different breeds, weighing between 6.1 kg and 33 kg, aged between 12 weeks and 8 year old where retrobulbar nerve block was performed prior to surgery. Local anaesthetic (Lignocaine hydrochloride injection BP 2%) was diluted with different volumes of saline (2-5 mls) and the solution was slowly infiltrated into the orbit via a ventrolateral conjunctival approach until the globe was displaced anteriorly into a central gaze position. The purpose was to obtain a good eyeball positioning prior to phacoemulsification procedure. In 3 cases a subconjunctival ballooning was noticed with a doughnut appearance of the bulbar conjunctiva that precluded surgical access to the dorsal cornea. These cases required the use of fine scissors to make a radial cut in the elevated conjunctiva, until the swelling was reduced sufficient so as not to interfere with the surgical procedure. This communication records conjunctival ballooning as a complication of retrobulbar nerve block in the dog.
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