Ultrasound-guided retrobulbar nerve block in donkey cadavers.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and describe an acoustic window to access and inject the retrobulbar region in donkey cadavers.

STUDY

DESIGN

Prospective cadaveric experimental study.

ANIMALS: A total of 14 donkey cadaver heads.

METHODS

Ultrasound landmarks for retrobulbar injection were identified by dissection of two cadavers. Ultrasound-guided retrobulbar injection of 3, 6 and 9 mL of contrast-lidocaine mixture (1:1) were evaluated using computed tomography (CT) in 12 cadavers for needle position and spread of injectate into the extraocular muscle cone.

RESULTS

Real-time visualization of needle, extraocular muscle cone and optic nerve enabled successful intraconal instillation of injectate, as documented on CT images.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ultrasound-guided retrobulbar injections in cadaver donkeys provided adequate infiltration of the intraconal space.