Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
Local anesthesia, also known as regional or peripheral anesthesia, is a method of blocking pain receptors used to numb a small part of the body. It is used to carry out non-invasive procedures, both medical and cosmetic, increasing the comfort of the patient who does not feel pain during them. Local anesthesia is completely reversible and usually causes no side effects. Under local anesthesia, the patient remains fully aware.
Types of local anesthesia
Local anesthesia it is available in several types. This can be surface anesthesia, nerve block, spinal and epidural (administered into the spinal cord) or segmental venous anesthesia.
Type local anesthesia is adapted to the type of treatment, they can also be combined. An anaesthesiologist performs epidural and spinal anesthesia, while the remaining types are performed local anesthesia can be performed by any doctor.
The most common type local anesthesia there is surface anesthesia. They are performed in dental procedures, in simple surgical procedures and in emergency departments, before a proper diagnosis and before some diagnostic tests.
Local anesthesia surface treatments can be administered in the form of injection, throat aerosol (e.g. before gastroscopy) and gels and creams applied to the skin (often this form of local anesthesia is used before procedures in the field of cosmetology and aesthetic medicine).
For surface anesthesia the most commonly used is wood cayenne, sometimes bupiwakaina and nowokaina. These substances, when applied locally, block the pain, while the feeling in this place is preserved.
All kinds of remedies for local anesthesia they work for about 2 hours.
For what procedures is local anesthesia used?
Local anesthesia it is used very often during dental procedures, before simple surgical procedures, in order to perform diagnostic tests such as gastroscopy and colonoscopy, as well as in procedures in the field of cosmetic medicine.
Local anesthesia epidural and subarachnoid surgeries are used before short surgeries such as: orthopedic and surgical procedures of the lower limbs, arthroscopy of the knee joint, urological procedures, varicose veins surgeries, gynecological surgeries and caesarean section. Operation in local anesthesia may take up to 4 hours. In some cases, it is a kind anesthesia preferred by doctors – for example, when during the operation it is necessary to contact the patient so that he can report disturbing symptoms or agree to change the scope of the procedure.
Local anesthesia it is also a lower risk complications during operations related to the administration of general anesthesia, which burden the cardiovascular system and complications related to intubation of the patient.
Local anesthesia subarachnoid also has a beneficial effect on coagulation and prevents thrombotic changes.
Another advantage local anesthesia is that the patient can leave the hospital soon after the procedure (usually on the same day), which is not possible after general anesthesia.
Possible complications after local anesthesia
Local anesthesia is a simple and safe procedure. There are basically no complications after it, and if they do occur, they usually pass quite quickly. Down complications These include: abnormal heart rhythm and contractions, drop in blood pressure, a feeling of metallic taste in the mouth, numbness of the tongue, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, and muscle twitching or seizures. These complications are not life threatening and are not dangerous for the patient’s health.
The exception is when the patient is allergic to a given substance used for anesthesia. Therefore, before the procedure local anesthesia you should report any allergies to your doctor. Allergic to the agent used for local anesthesia may lead to respiratory and circulatory disorders, and even to anaphylactic shock.
Contraindications to local anesthesia
Local anesthesia it should not be performed in the case of: very low blood pressure, blood clotting disorders, skin infections or the location of a tattoo at the puncture site, certain heart diseases.