ENT Part I Flashcards
How many muscles of the eye are there?
6
These muscles are innervated by the oculomotor nerve (CN III)
Superior rectus, inferior rectus, medial rectus, and inferior oblique.
This muscle is innervated by the abducens nerve (CN VI)
Lateral rectus. Moves the eye down and outward.
This muscle is innervated by the trochlear nerve (CN IV)
Superior oblique (moves the eye down and out)
Functions of the oculomotor nerve.
Innervates 4 of the eye muscles (superior rectus, inferior rectus, medial rectus, and inferior oblique).
Also causes pupillary constriction and eyelid opening.
Innervation of the trigeminal nerve
This is a SENSORY nerve with two branches
1) Ophthalmic branch
- Innervates upper eyelid, conjunctiva, and cornea
- Nasociliary branch of the ophthalmic nerve gives sensory to the medial canthus, lacrimal sac, and ciliary gangion (cornea, iris, and ciliary body)
2) Maxillary branch
- Sensory to lower lid
Topical anesthesia eye drops do a great job at blocking this, but not this
Good for blocking the trigeminal nerve, which innervates the cornea.
Bad for blocking the eyelids. Need extra anesthesia to relax the lids for traction.
Injury to this nerve can result in total blindness
Optic nerve (CN II)
Where is aqueous humor produced?
2/3 is made in the posterior chamber by the ciliary body. Once produced, it is then actively moved from the posterior to the anterior chamber via an active sodium pump mechanism.
1/3 is produced by passive filtration through vessels in the iris
How fast is aqueous humor produced?
2uL/min
This is the same as 0.12mL per hour. Sooooo not very fast
How is aqueous humor eliminated?
It drains out of the eye through a spongy tissue called the trabecular meshwork. From the meshwork, it drains into Schlemm’s canal and the episcleral venous system located in the anterior chamber, eventually ending up at the SVC and RA.
What is IOP and what factors determine it?
Normal IOP is 10-20mmHg.
4 players in determining IOP:
- Production of aqueous humor
- Drainage of aqueous humor
- Changed is the choroidal blood volume or pressure
- EOM (extraocular muslce) tone
The globe of the eye is a pretty non-compliant structure, and the volume of the compartments is fixed, with these two exceptions
Aqueous fluid and choroidal blood volume.
These volumes can change and regulate the IOP.
These factors can increase the IOP
Drugs:
- Ketamine
- Sux (This can actually cause a 8mmHg increase in IOP d/t fasciculations. This can be a major problem if the globe of the eye is exposed (in eye trauma) because it will lead to spillage of contents of the eye. Gross!)
Other factors that increase IOP:
Position changes, coughing, valsalva maneuver, straining, vomiting, HTN, injection of local anesthesia, laryngoscopy, hypercarbia, lid pressure, eye compression, forceful eyelid squeeze
These factors will decrease the IOP
Drugs:
- Most anesthetic drugs
- NDMRs
- Hypertonic solutions (3%NS, mannitol, etc)
Other:
- Hypotension, hypothermia, hyperventilation (low CO2 –> similar to decreasing ICP!)
Examples of topical ophthalmic drugs and their effects
Acetazolamide
- Used to tx glaucoma
- Induces diuresis
- May cause K+ depletion; want preop labs
Ecothiophate
- Used to tx glaucoma
- Topical anticholinesterase; maintains miosis
- May cause inhibition of plasma cholinesterase; caution with succinylcholine and toxicity with ester-type local anesthetics
Phenylephrine
- Alpha agonist; causes mydriasis
- Associated with severe HTN
Acetylcholine
- Cholinergic drugs; constrict pupil
- Can cause bradycardia and acute bronchospasm
Timolol
- Used in the tx glaucoma
- Topical beta blocker
- May cause bradycardia, bronchospasm, CHF
Ketorolac and Diclofenac
- Both are NSAIDs
- Used for inflammation
Mitomycin C
- Chemotherapeutic drug
Atropine
- Pupil dilation
Cyclopentolate
- Potent pupil dilation
This glaucome med must be stopped 4-6 weeks prior to surgery
Ecothiophate
This med is a topical anticholinesterase. It causes inhibition of plasma cholinesterases d/t systemic absorption. This can lead to problems with sux and ester-type LA toxicity (because the ESTERs and metabolized by plasma ESTERases)
This chemo agent is used ophthalmically to promote smooth healing of the eye
Mitomycin C. It aids by preventing excessive cellular proliferation that could result in scarring.
Nerves that mediate the oculocardiac reflex (OCR)
Trigeminal and vagal
S/S of the OCR
Bradycardia, AV block, ventricular ectopy, asystole
What triggers the OCR?
Pressure on the globe, pain, traction on the EOMs, retrobulbar block, eye trauma, hypoventilation (remember that hypercarbia will result in increased IOPs)
OCR occur most often during this type of surgery**
Strabismus surgery (due to manipulation of the EOMs)
This was italicized on the ppt. Possible test question.
How can you try to prevent the OCR, and how do you treat the OCR if it happens?
Prevention:
- Maintain normal EtCO2
- Pretreat with anticholinergics like Glyco (this is not normally necessary)
Treatment:
- Tell the surgeon to stop the stimulus. Let them know what is happening.
- Assess their ventilatory status (what is their EtCO2 looking like?)
- Atropine if necessary in 7mcg/kg increments
- Injection of LA into the EOMs
What is a big thing you need to assess for before an eye surgery?
Is the patient able to cooperate and lie still? If not, you’ll probably have to do a general anesthetic.
Conditions that make it difficult to lie supine and lie still:
SOB, OSA, chronic cough, nasal drip, reflux, nausea, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or claustrophobia, mentally disabled, back pain, pediatric patients
What to tell you patient regarding before eye surgery?
Make sure they continue their home medication regimen. Let the patient know that they need to lie still and may be awake for the procedure.
Goals of anesthesia for eye surgery
Safety (ability to manage airway with limited access), control HTN, avoid overhydration, akinesia, analgesia, taking steps to avoid the OCR, preventing increase in IOP, smooth emergence (avoiding retching, vomiting, coughing etc than can increase IOP and rupture stitches), awareness of drug interactions (ecothiophate and sux/ester-LAs)
Advantage of regional over general anesthesia for eye surgeries
- Provides good analgesia
- Less occurance of N/V
- Faster recovery and discharge
- Cheaper
Anesthesia/sedation for retrobulbar block
Usually, we put the patient out for the block and then wake them back up. They are supine with HOB up 10-15 degrees. Nasal cannula in place with ASA monitors.
Propofol can be given in small increments (20mg). However, this provides no analgesia, so the patient may startle on needle insertion.
Remifentanyl is another option (.3-.5mcg/kg). Lasts 2-5 minutes, which is long enough for placement of the block.
Can give midazolam in addition to these two meds depending on the pt’s age.
Infusions are not necessary because we want the patient to be aware an unobtunded during the procedure.