4. Local Anesthetic Flashcards
What is a local anesthetic?
an agent that interrupts pain signals in a specific region of the body WITHOUT a loss of pt consciousness.
is reversible and has no residual nerve effects
What is another name for local anesthetics?
regional anesthetics
What is the difference between analgesics and anesthetics?
Anesthetics block sodium channels which blocks ALL nerve transmission.
Analgesics only stop pain signals
Why are anesthetics often given with opiods and epinephrine?
opiods to increase effectiveness
epi to prolong effect
What are 3 type of local anesthesia?
- topical (skin)
- nerve block (non-spinal nerves)
- epidural (spinal nerves)
What is surface anesthesia?
What is it used for?
A type of anesthesia accomplished by applying a local anesthetic to skin of mucus membranes.
Used to relieve itching, burning and surface pain.
What is nerve block?
It is when a local anesthetic is injected around a nerve that leads to the site being operated on.
What is spinal anesthesia?
Is when a local anesthetic in injected directly into the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord.
What is another name for spinal anesthesia?
An epidural
What are the effects of local anesthesia?
- first, autonomic activity is lost
- then pain and other senses are lost
- motor activity is the LAST to be lost
- these activities come back in reverse order
What are local anesthetics used for?
- surgery, dental and diagnosing procedures
- treatment of certain types of pain
What is infiltration anesthesia?
What is it used for?
- is an intradermal, subcutaneous or submucosal injection of an anesthetic solution
- injected across the path of nerves supplying target area
- used for minor surgical or dental procedures
Local anesthetic have limited side effects. How can adverse effects occur?
- accidental intravascular injection
- large dose or quick dose rate
- slow metabolic breakdown
- injection into highly vascular tissue
