Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

Safety profile of anesthetic modalities during laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review

Journal of Perinatology volume 43, pages 685–693 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To determine the anesthetic approach with the least adverse events and better cardiorespiratory stability profile, used in infants undergoing laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity.

Study design

A systematic review was conducted. PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched until 27th October 2021. Reference lists of relevant studies, and abstract books of international annual meetings of pediatric Οphthalmology for the years 2020 and 2021 were also looked at, as well as Clinical trials registry (https://clinicaltrials.gov/).

Result

Overall 18 primary studies (3 randomized controlled trials, 3 cohorts, 12 case series) were included, investigating different anesthetic modalities. Cardiopulmonary instability was more common, and hypothermia was less common in the sedation groups of pentazocine/midazolam and fentanyl/midazolam, compared to the general anesthesia group of air/oxygen/sevoflurane (AOS). Cardiorespiratory instability was also more common in sedation with propofol/ketamine compared to general anesthesia with AOS, while postoperative mechanical ventilation was more frequently needed in the latter. Αpnea, need for supplemental oxygen and cardiorespiratory instability was more frequent in infants receiving fentanyl as opposed to ketamine. Fentanyl compared to morphine presented no differences in safety parameters. Finally, topical anesthesia showed the greatest instability with a higher mean postoperative cardiorespiratory index, compared to both sedation and general anesthesia. Episodes of life-threatening events were reported after topical anesthesia, while hypothermia and oliguria presented less often after topical, compared to general anesthesia and sedation.

Conclusion

Significant heterogeneity among studies precludes direct comparisons and generalizability of the results. No specific anesthetic modality for treatment of ROP with laser photocoagulation was shown to be superior in terms of safety. Well-designed studies are required to establish the optimal anesthetic approach, considering that laser photocoagulation still remains one of the main therapeutic modalities for ROP.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: PRISMA flow diagram.

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article and its supplementary material files. Further enquiries can be directed to the corresponding author. This article is part of a thesis for the requirements of the postgraduate program “Medical Research Methodology in Medicine and Health Sciences” of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki [34], available in: (http://ikee.lib.auth.gr/record/338708/files/GRI-2022-34613.pdf).

References

  1. Mintz-Hittner HA, Kennedy KA, Chuang AZ, Group, RC B-. Efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab for stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity. N Engl J Med. 2011;364:603–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Terry TL. Extreme prematurity and fibroblastic overgrowth of persistent vascular sheath behind each crystalline lens: I. Preliminary report. Am J Ophthalmol. 2018;192:xxviii.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Dannelley JF, Johnson PN, Anderson MP, Oestreich K, Siatkowski RM, Miller JL. Assessment of outcomes with a sedation protocol during laser photocoagulation in preterm infants with retinopathy of prematurity. J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther. 2018;23:410–6.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Parulekar MV, Chen SD, Patel CK. Sub-Tenon’s local anaesthesia for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity with diode laser. Eye. 2008;22:375–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. SIGN Guideline 58: safe sedation of children undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Paediatr Anaesth. 2008;18:11–2.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hartrey R. Anaesthesia for the laser treatment of neonates with retinopathy of prematurity. Eye 2007;21:1025–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ulgey A, Gunes I, Bayram A, Aksu R, Bicer C, Ugur F, et al. Decreasing the need for mechanical ventilation after surgery for retinopathy of prematurity: sedoanalgesia vs. general anesthesia. Turk J Med Sci. 2015;45:1292–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Reighard C, Junaid S, Jackson WM, Arif A, Waddington H, Whitehouse AJO, et al. Anesthetic exposure during childhood and neurodevelopmental outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5:e2217427.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Nasr VG, Davis JM. Anesthetic use in newborn infants: the urgent need for rigorous evaluation. Pediatr Res. 2015;78:2–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen SD, Sundaram V, Wilkinson A, Patel CK. Variation in anaesthesia for the laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity-a survey of ophthalmologists in the UK. Eye. 2007;21:1033–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sato Y, Oshiro M, Takemoto K, Hosono H, Saito A, Kondo T, et al. Multicenter observational study comparing sedation/analgesia protocols for laser photocoagulation treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. J Perinatol. 2015;35:965–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Jiang JB, Strauss R, Luo XQ, Nie C, Wang YL, Zhang JW, et al. Anaesthesia modalities during laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity: a retrospective, longitudinal study. BMJ Open. 2017;7:e013344.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ. 2021;372:n71.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. ClinicalTrials.gov 2021 Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/.

  15. Sterne JAC, Savović J, Page MJ, Elbers RG, Blencowe NS, Boutron I, et al. RoB 2: a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ 2019;366:l4898.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. GA Wells, B Shea, D O’Connell, J Peterson, V Welch, M Losos, et al. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for assessing the quality of nonrandomised studies in meta-analyses 2013 Available from: http://www.ohri.ca/programs/clinical_epidemiology/oxford.asp.

  17. Murad MH, Sultan S, Haffar S, Bazerbachi F. Methodological quality and synthesis of case series and case reports. BMJ Evid Based Med. 2018;23:60–3.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. But A, Arikan M, Aslan B, Öztürk L, Tabuk M, Horasanli E. Comparison of anesthesia with sevofl urane-N2O and midazolam-remifentanil in low-birth-weight premature infants undergoing diode laser photocoagulation. Turk J Med Sci. 2012;42:573–9.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Madathil S, Thomas D, Chandra P, Agarwal R, Sankar MJ, Thukral A, et al. ‘NOPAIN-ROP’ trial: Intravenous fentanyl and intravenous ketamine for pain relief during laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants: A randomised trial. BMJ Open. 2021;11:e046235.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Orge FH, Lee TJ, Walsh M, Gordon K. Comparison of fentanyl and morphine in laser surgery for retinopathy of prematurity. J AAPOS. 2013;17:135–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Demirel N, Bas AY, Kavurt S, Celik IH, Yucel H, Turkbay D, et al. Remifentanil analgesia during laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity: a practical approach in neonatal intensive care unit. Am J Perinatol. 2014;31:983–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Gorbe E, Vamos R, Joo GJ, Jeager J, Molvarec A, Berecz B, et al. Perioperative analgesia of infants during the therapy for retinopathy of prematurity. Med Sci Monit. 2010;16:CR186–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kaur B, Carden SM, Wong J, Frawley G. Anesthesia management of laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity. A retrospective review of perioperative adverse events. Paediatr Anaesth. 2020;30:1261–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kirwan C, O’Keefe M, Prendergast M, Twomey A, Murphy J. Morphine analgesia as an alternative to general anaesthesia during laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. Acta Ophthalmol Scand. 2007;85:644–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Lyon F, Dabbs T, O’Meara M. Ketamine sedation during the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. Eye. 2008;22:684–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ferrer Novella C, Gonzalez Viejo I, Oro Fraile J, Mayoral Lopez F, Dieste Marcial M. New anaesthetic technique in diode laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. Pediatrics. 2008;68:576–80.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Piersigilli F, Di Pede A, Catena G, Lozzi S, Auriti C, Bersani I, et al. Propofol and fentanyl sedation for laser treatment of retinopathy of prematurity to avoid intubation. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2019;32:517–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Pinho DFR, Real C, Ferreira L, Pina P. Peribulbar block combined with general anesthesia in babies undergoing laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity: a retrospective analysis. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2018;68:431–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Sammartino M, Bocci MG, Ferro G, Mercurio G, Papacci P, Conti G, et al. Efficacy and safety of continuous intravenous infusion of remifentanil in preterm infants undergoing laser therapy in retinopathy of prematurity: clinical experience. Paediatr Anaesth. 2003;13:596–602.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Saylan S, Akdogan A, Kader S, Tugcugil E, Besir A, Kola M, et al. Sedoanalgesia modality during laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity: Intraoperative complications and early postoperative follow-up. Ulus Travma Acids Cerrahi Derg. 2020;26:754–9.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Salaün JP, de Queiroz M, Orliaguet G. Development: Epidemiology and management of postoperative apnoea in premature and term newborns. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2020;39:871–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Walz JM, Bemme S, Reichl S, Akman S, Breuß H, Süsskind D, et al. Treated cases of retinopathy of prematurity in Germany: 5-year data from the Retina.net ROP registry. Ophthalmologe 2018;115:476–88.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Ahmed SB, Higham A, Mulvihill A, Chan TKJ, Adams G, Patel CK. The UK practice of Anti-VEGF therapy for treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. Eye. 2021;35:2451–3.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Gavriilidou A Safety comparison between different anesthesia protocols regarding premature infants undergoing laser therapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity- Systematic Review. Institutional Repository of Scientific Publications: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; 2022.

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Professor D.G.Goulis and I. Doundoulakis who very kindly contributed to this systematic review.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, 424 General Military Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Ariadni Gavriilidou

  2. School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Ariadni Gavriilidou

  3. 2nd Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Aikaterini K. Seliniotaki, Nikolaos Ziakas & Asimina Mataftsi

  4. Department of Anesthesiology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Zoi Arvanitaki

  5. Department of Hygiene, Social-Preventive Medicine & Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Anna-Bettina Haidich

Authors
  1. Ariadni Gavriilidou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aikaterini K. Seliniotaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zoi Arvanitaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nikolaos Ziakas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Anna-Bettina Haidich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Asimina Mataftsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Contributions to the conception and design of the work were made by all authors (AG, AKS, ZA, NZ, ABH, AM). Acquisition and analysis of data were conducted by AG, AKS, and AM. Interpretation of data was done by all authors (AG, AKS, ZA, NZ, ABH, AM). Drafting the work was performed by AG, AKS, and AM, and revising it critically was performed by all authors (AG, AKS, ZA, NZ, ABH, AM). Final approval of the version to be published was given by all authors (AG, AKS, ZA, NZ, ABH, AM). All authors (AG, AKS, ZA, NZ, ABH, AM) agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Asimina Mataftsi.

Ethics declarations

competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics

An ethics statement is not applicable because this study is based exclusively on published literature.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gavriilidou, A., Seliniotaki, A.K., Arvanitaki, Z. et al. Safety profile of anesthetic modalities during laser treatment for retinopathy of prematurity: a systematic review. J Perinatol 43, 685–693 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-023-01622-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-023-01622-7

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links