A retrospective review of the profile and complications of anesthesia among pediatric ophthalmic patients in a tertiary hospital, Benin city, nigeria

Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the technique of anesthesia and the anesthesia-related perioperative outcomes among children undergoing pediatric ophthalmic procedures. Methods: The ophthalmic theater register was examined to identify patients who underwent surgical procedures in the pediatric ophthalmology unit between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2023 at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin. Relevant data, including the demographic characteristics, surgical procedures, nature of the surgery, anesthetic technique and anesthesia-related complications, were recorded for each patient. Data analysis was done with InStat GraphPad Prism (v8.4.3). Results: A total of 426 patients were studied. The mean age was 6.2 ± 4.86 years, and 241 (56.6%) were male. A total of 357 (83.8%) children received general anesthesia. Cataract extraction (25.6%) and corneal repair (20.7%) were the most common surgical procedures. Children aged ≤12 years were more likely to receive general anesthesia compared with older (13–18 years) children ( P < 0.0001, odds ratio = 18.7, 95% confidence interval: 9.9–33.7). Bradycardia from oculocardiac reflex (36.6%), tachycardia (21.9%), and difficult intubation (17%) were the most common anesthetic complications. Conclusion: Anesthesia-related complications during pediatric ophthalmic surgery are mainly cardiovascular. Measures to reduce the occurrence of such complications during the perioperative care of pediatric ophthalmology patients should be considered by anesthetists when developing the anesthetic plan for ocular surgeries.