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espanolObjetivos: Evaluar el manejo del dolor peroperatorio en la cirugia vitreorretiniana, utilizando un cateter retrobulbar que permita reinyecciones de anestesicos locales. Metodos: Fueron incluidos en el estudio 25 pacientes, sometidos a cirugia vitreorretiniana, utilizando un cateter flexible introducido en el espacio intraconal, a traves de una aguja espinal 22 G 1 1/2 de 40x0,7 mm, con la que depositamos previamente 3,5 ml de ropivacaina 0,75% retrobulbares, dejando posteriormente el cateter fijado a piel. Ante la presencia de dolor (grado 3 o superior) se reinyectaron en el postoperatorio 2 ml de ropivacaina 0,2%, y 2 ml al 0,75% si el dolor acontecia intraoperatoriamente. El cateter se mantuvo entre 24 y 48 horas. Resultados: Un paciente (4%) manifesto moderado dolor intraoperatorio, que cedio tras la administracion de 2 ml de ropivacaina 0,75% a traves del cateter, y no ocasiono interrupcion de la cirugia. Tres pacientes (12%) precisaron una reinyeccion postoperatoria de 2 ml de ropivacaina 0,2% por dolor. Las reinyecciones aliviaron el dolor de forma inmediata (menos de 3 min). No se precisaron segundas reinyecciones, ni se detectaron complicaciones derivadas de la tecnica. Conclusiones: La cateterizacion del espacio retrobulbar permite la administracion fraccionada de anestesicos locales, aportando a la cirugia vitreorretiniana un adecuado soporte anestesico, asi como un control del dolor postoperatorio de forma inmediata, eficaz y segura. EnglishObjective: To evaluate peroperative pain management using a flexible spinal anesthesia catheter introduced into the retrobulbar space which allows injections of local anesthetics for vitreoretinal surgery. Methods: Twenty-five patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery receiving retrobulbar anesthesia with 3.5 ml ropivacaine 0.75%. After injection, a catheter with spinal needle 22G x 1 1/2 (40 x 0.7 mm) was introduced to the retrobulbar muscle cone. The needle was withdrawn and the catheter was fixed. When the patient started to feel pain (grade 3 or higher), 2 ml ropivacaine 0.75% was administrated through the catheter during surgery or 2 ml ropivacaine 0.2% in the postoperative period. The catheter was removed 24-48h later. Results: During surgery, 1 patient (4%) received a re-injection of 2 ml ropivacaine 0.75% because of pain. Three patients (12%) experienced pain of grade 3 or higher in the postoperative period and needed re-injection of 2 ml ropivacaine 0.2%. Re-injections were an effective method to achieve analgesia. Adverse effects were not noticed. Conclusions: The retrobulbar catheter technique is a procedure which allows multiple re-injections of local anesthetics; it provides adequate analgesia during surgery and rapid, effective and safe postoperative pain management.