Gabriella De Salvo

Bio: Gabriella De Salvo is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cataract surgery & Medicine. The author has co-authored 1 publications.

Non-Toxic Anesthesia for Cataract Surgery

Abstract: Background: To study the safety and efficacy provided by a minimal and localized anesthesia in cataract surgery. Methods: Randomized controlled trial. A total of 100 patients undergoing cataract surgery were randomly divided into two groups of 50, which respecitvely received conventional topical anesthesia consisting of preservative-free Oxibuprocaine hydrochloride 0.4% drops or minimal localized anesthesia, administered with a cotton bud soaked in preservative-free Oxibuprocaine hydrochloride 0.4% applied to clear cornea on the access sites for 10 s immediately before surgery. The mean outcome measures were intraoperative pain and the incidence of postoperative ocular discomfort. Results: All patients tolerated well the procedure, giving patin scores between 1–3. Fifteen patients (30%) of group 1 and ten of group 2 (25%) required supplemental anesthesia. No intraoperative complications were recorded. No eyes had epithelial defects at the end of the surgery or at postoperative check-ups. Conclusions: Minimal anesthesia in cataract surgery resulted quick, safe and non-invasive.

Alpha-Glycerylphosphorylcholine and D-Panthenol Eye Drops in Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery

Abstract: Cataract surgery is widespread. The surgical procedure is associated with damage to the epithelial barrier and interruption of the corneal innervation. In addition, pathological events sustain signs and symptoms that may persist for a long time. Recently, a fixed combination of alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine and D-Panthenol (Oftassiale) has been available as eye drops. The present study investigated the effects of an Oftassiale therapy in 20 patients undergoing cataract surgery. A comparison group included 20 patients treated with topical hyaluronic acid. Standard prophylactic and anti-inflammatory treatment was prescribed to all patients. Clinical signs and symptoms were assessed over time. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) was performed accordingly. Oftassiale treatment significantly reduced clinical features and improved IVCM outcomes. In addition, therapy was well-tolerated, and no clinically significant adverse events occurred. In conclusion, this study confirmed that IVCM helps assess the tunnel after cataract surgery due to its ability to provide microscopic details in vivo. Topical therapy with alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine and D-Panthenol eye drops promoted and stabilized the reepithelialization process. This fixed combination also accelerated and modulated the repair of the corneal innervation. Moreover, this treatment was well-tolerated and safe.

Topical anesthetics oxybuprocaine versus bupivacaine 0.5% in intravitreal injections

Abstract: Aim This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of the local anesthetic bupivacaine 0.5% and oxybuprocaine hydrochloride 0.4% used topically to provide surface anesthesia before intravitreal injection (IVI) procedures. Settings and design This double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial was carried out at the Research Institute of Ophthalmology, Egypt. Patients and methods This trial included diabetic patients with glycated hemoglobin less than 7.5 mmol/l of both sexes, aged from 30 to 70 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists I, II, or III, who had central retinal vein occlusion and choroidal neovascularization. A total of 110 eligible patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Patients in group A received bupivacaine 0.5%, while those in group B received oxybuprocaine hydrochloride 0.4%. Both drugs were topically applied, three times, at 5 min intervals, for 15 min, which was followed by the IVI. The primary outcome was pain during the injection and the secondary outcome was corneal adverse effects. Results The frequency of pain-free IVI was equal in both groups (83.6% each, P=0.100). The difference in the mean heart rate after injection between groups A (81.4±12.7) and B (82.5±15.6) was nonsignificant (P=0.678). The rate of corneal side effects in terms of opacity or allergy to the topically applied drugs was nonsignificantly lower in group A compared with group B (9.1 vs. 12.7%, P=0.541). Conclusions The topical use of bupivacaine 0.5% had anesthetic efficacy similar to that of oxybuprocaine hydrochloride 0.4% during the IVI. Both the topical anesthetics were well tolerated by patients.