Local anaesthesia

Local anaesthesia (pronunciation: loh-kal an-uh-sthee-zhuh) is a type of anaesthesia that numbs a specific area of the body to prevent pain during medical procedures. The term originates from the Greek words "an" (without) and "aisthesis" (sensation), with the prefix "local" indicating its targeted application.

Types of Local Anaesthesia

There are two main types of local anaesthesia:

Topical anaesthesia: This is applied to the skin or mucous membranes in the form of creams, sprays, or patches. It is often used for minor procedures or to numb an area before injecting a local anaesthetic.

Infiltration anaesthesia: This involves injecting the anaesthetic directly into the tissue to be treated. It is commonly used for minor surgical procedures such as biopsies or dental work.

Mechanism of Action

Local anaesthetics work by blocking nerve conduction near their site of administration, thereby producing a loss of sensation in the area. They do this by inhibiting the influx of sodium ions into nerve cells, which is necessary for the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses.

Common Local Anaesthetics

Some commonly used local anaesthetics include:

Lidocaine: This is the most commonly used local anaesthetic in many countries. It is often used in dentistry and for minor surgery.

Bupivacaine: This is a long-acting local anaesthetic often used for epidural anaesthesia during childbirth and postoperative pain management.

Procaine: Also known as Novocain, this is a short-acting local anaesthetic often used in dentistry.

Side Effects and Risks

While local anaesthesia is generally safe, potential side effects and risks can include allergic reactions, nerve damage, and systemic toxicity if the anaesthetic enters the bloodstream in large amounts.

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski

Local anaesthesia