General Anesthesia With or Without Local Ear Block in Middle Ear Surgeries

General Anesthesia With or Without Local Ear Block in Middle Ear Surgeries; A Randomised, Double-blind Trial

Background: Proper selection of anesthetic technique is important in middle ear microsurgery. Controlled hypotension in ear surgery decreases blood loss with improved quality of the surgical field, however, it is associated with resistance to vasodilators and delayed recovery from anesthesia. The use of local anesthetic technique alone in middle ear surgery decreases bleeding and reduces postoperative pain, however, pain on injection, noise, and head-neck position had been reported with the increased risk of patient injuries. This study aimed to compare the effects of local ear block combined with general anesthesia versus general anesthesia alone, regarding intraoperative hemodynamics, anesthetic consumption, recovery characteristics, postoperative pain, adverse effects and postoperative complications.

Eighty adult patients undergoing middle ear surgery (tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy) were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized into two equal groups (40 patients each). A standardized general anesthetic technique was used in both groups. Group I, received general anesthesia combined with ear block using 10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and (Group II), received general anesthesia alone combined with ear block using 10 ml saline. Propofol 2-3 mg /Kg was administered to induce anesthesia, which was maintained using isoflurane. Hemodynamic variables, surgical conditions including the quality of the operative field, intraoperative fentanyl, vasodilators (propranolol and nitroglycerine), isoflurane consumption, recovery time, postoperative pain, total analgesics consumption and postoperative complications were recorded

The same surgeons performed all the operations to ensure consistency in the estimation of the surgical field. To eliminate the observer bias, the observing anesthetist did not attend the induction of block. Also, the operating surgeon was blinded to the pharmacological treatments, anesthesia and performance of the used techniques.

ear block by local anaesthetic injection 0.25% bupivacaine. general anesthetic by: midazolam 0.02 mg kg-1 , propofol 2-3 mg kg-1 and lidocaine 0.5 mg kg-1 , fentanyl 2 µg kg-1 , atracurium 0.5 mg kg-1 , isoflurane in 50% oxygen/air. hypotensives for deliberate hypotension by nitroglycerine 0.5-10 μg /kg/min and increments of 0.2 mg propranolol

ear block by Normal Saline Flush, 0.9% Injectable Solution . general anesthetic by: midazolam 0.02 mg kg-1 , propofol 2-3 mg kg-1 and lidocaine 0.5 mg kg-1 , fentanyl 2 µg kg-1 , atracurium 0.5 mg kg-1 , isoflurane in 50% oxygen/air. hypotensives for deliberate hypotension by nitroglycerine 0.5-10 μg /kg/min and increments of 0.2 mg propranolol

general anesthetic by midazolam 0.02 mg kg-1 , propofol 2-3 mg kg-1 and lidocaine 0.5 mg kg-1 , fentanyl 2 μg kg-1 , atracurium 0.5 mg kg-1 , isoflurane in 50% oxygen/air.

hypotensives for deliberate hypotension by nitroglycerine 0.5-10 μg /kg/min and increments of 0.2 mg propranolol

at arrival to the operating room,1 minute after induction of anesthesia,1 minute after surgical incision,then every 15 minutes till the time of complete surgical wound closure. - postoperative every one hour for 4 hours then every 4 hours for 24 hours

at arrival to the operating room,1 minute after induction of anesthesia,1 minute after surgical incision,then every 15 minutes till the time of complete surgical wound closure. - postoperative every one hour for 4 hours then every 4 hours for 24 hours

four-point scale from 0=no bleeding (excellent surgical conditions), 1=minimum bleeding (sporadic suction), 2= diffuse bleeding (repeated suction), and 3=abundant (troublesome) bleeding

every 15 minutes from start of the surgical incision till the time of complete surgical wound closure.

postoperative: at the time that the patient had Aldrete's score of 9. ,then every 4 hours for 24 hours.

Inclusion Criteria: ASA I or II status, scheduled for tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy Exclusion Criteria: patient refusal, known allergy to local anesthetics cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction, hypertension and valvular heart diseases) --- cerebrovascular diseases (including transient ischemic attacks), renal, hepatic insufficiency or coagulation abnormality.