Local anesthesia is an anesthetic method that has reversibly block nerve endings’ order in a region, keeping the individual in a full state of consciousness. The methodology blocks pain receptors in more superficial regions, preventing pain signals from sending to the brain.
This anesthesia can be combined with other types of anesthesia, such as sedation and general anesthesia, to minimize the painful discomfort of its infiltration into the skin and subcutaneous tissue and allow the patient to be more comfortable during the surgical procedure. It is also used to help control pain after the surgical procedure using anesthesia medical instruments.
When Is Local Anesthesia Indicated?
Many small and superficial medical procedures, aesthetic and even dental, can benefit from local anesthesia. The local anesthetic is frequently used by anesthesiologists to an anesthetic button on the skin before performing epidural or spinal anesthesia since the needles of these procedures are caliber. Consequently, the patient feels more pain when the skin is pierced and is not anesthetized.
When there is a need to intubate a patient awake or during endoscopic procedures, an anesthetic spray and gel are used in the patient’s mouth and throat, making the procedure less painful and decreasing the patient’s reflexes.
Limitations Of Use
There is a limit on the amount of local anesthetic that can be administered; when the safe administration dose is reached, its use should not be continued due to the systemic toxicity of the medication. Tissues with inflammation and infection impede the medication’s effective action by changing the site’s pH, so local anesthesia may not adequately block the region.
Another limiting factor is that although it prevents the patient from feeling pain, it does not block handling the site. This can be highly uncomfortable for some patients. In this case, light sedation may be necessary to minimize the patient’s discomfort during the procedure.
Risks Of Local Anesthesia
Allergic processes to the local anesthetic are extremely rare. When the local anesthetic is administered to tissues, it is absorbed by the circulatory system and acts on other systems in the body. Due to this systemic action, there is a safe maximum dose based on the patient’s weight.
Intoxication is the most feared complication and can lead to cardiac and neurological disorders. Some premonitory signs indicate this toxic effect, such as metallic taste in the mouth, visual and auditory disturbances. Speech disorders, tremors, seizures, respiratory and cardiac arrest are expected when the individual receives an exaggerated dose of local anesthetic.
Comments