Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine if the use of lidocaine gel before application of povidone iodine (PI) affects endophthalmitis rates following intravitreal injections.
Methods: :
Retrospective consecutive case series of all intravitreal injections (IVIs) at a single academic institution from 1/1/2000 to 12/31/2009. IVIs performed for the treatment of endophthalmitis were excluded. A search of the medical billing and coding database was performed at the Stanford University School of Medicine to identify all IVIs administered during the study period, as well as all patients with the diagnosis of endophthalmitis. The rate of post-injection endophthalmitis was determined for the group of patients that received lidocaine gel prior to PI antisepsis and for the no lidocaine gel group. A review of medical records of post-IVI endophthalmitis cases was performed to determine if lidocaine gel was applied prior to PI antisepsis. The clinical course and outcomes of all cases were analyzed.
Results: :
A total of 8802 IVIs were administered during the study period in 2,847 patients. When no lidocaine gel was used prior to PI antisepsis, four cases of endophthalmitis following 4120 IVIs (0.097%) were recorded. When 2% lidocaine gel was applied before PI, four cases of endophthalmitis following 4682 IVIs (0.085%) were observed (p = 0.8558).
Conclusions: :
The use of lidocaine gel prior to PI antisepsis did not significantly alter post-IVI endophthalmitis rates.
Keywords: endophthalmitis • injection