Local anesthesia is not in vain called the safest type of pain relief. It is this anesthesia technique that is most often used both in combination with other types of anesthesia and in isolation from everyone. What is it and why is it so widely used?
Local anesthesia is an artificial provocation of a temporary interruption of sensitivity in a specific area of the surgical field using chemical and physical agents. Physical methods, such as compression and cooling, have almost gone down in history, but chemical methods have spread widely and continue to improve. Its synonyms are both “local anesthesia” and local anesthesia.
Usually its use is required during diagnostic studies or small operations, for example, in dentistry, autopsy, and so on. And local anesthesia is used if there are some contraindications to general anesthesia. The use of local anesthesia in children's practice is not very popular, however, some of its types are included in the combined anesthesia regimen during operations and in the postoperative period.
For anesthesia, a local anesthetic must be injected into the anatomical structures of the skin area where the operation will be performed. Thin needles are used for injection, because of this they are very painful. The injections are done superficially, although in some cases, medications must be administered more deeply.
There are some methods of local anesthesia, which can be grouped into the following types:
- Terminal (contact) anesthesia is the most famous and easiest way to anesthetize the mucous membranes. An anesthetic solution (aeration, drops, etc.) is in direct contact with the mucous membranes. It is used in thoracic surgery, anesthesiology and otorhinolaryngology;
- Infiltration anesthesia - tight layer-by-layer infiltration of soft tissues with a weak solution of anesthetic in the area of operation. For this type of anesthesia, a 0.5-1.5% solution of mepivacaine, 0.25-0.5% lidocaine solution and 0.25% trimecaine solution are used;
- Regional anesthesia is the most promising method, which is characterized by such features:
- Anesthetic is administered at a certain distance from the area of operation;
- Small volumes of anesthetics cover extensive parts of the body with anesthesia;
- the quality of anesthesia directly depends on a good knowledge of the technique of anesthesia and anatomy;
Regional anesthesia is divided into:
- intravenous;
- intraosseous;
- peripheral and central conductor;
- electroacupuncture.
Local anesthesia in dentistry has been and remains the main method of anesthesia, the effectiveness of which depends on the condition of the patient, the structure of his upper and lower jaw, anesthesia technique, as well as the anesthetics used. The main criterion for choosing an anesthetic drug is its safety, effectiveness, individual characteristics of the patient, as well as the nature of his intervention. And the effectiveness of the anesthetic is directly related to the value of the dissociation constant, the percentage concentration of the vasoconstrictor and anesthetic, the molecular basis, the separation coefficient, and also the degrees of diffusion of the drug into nerve fibers.
Local anesthesia in surgery is no less important than in dental practice. The most commonly used medicine in this case is novocaine in the form of 0.25-0.5%, and extremely rarely 1-2% saline. Such solutions for anesthesia are prepared directly on the day of the operation, because if you prepare them in advance, novocaine will lose all its analgesic properties.
Before proceeding to local anesthesia, you should familiarize yourself with the list of its contraindications, and this:
- Tissue damage - severe inflammation, severe scarring or bleeding;
- Mental disorders of the patient;
- Intolerance to anesthetics.
And finally, it is worth noting that local anesthesia has some obvious advantages. These include:
- The ability to perform without expensive apparatus and tools, as well as in any conditions;
- Minimal impact on the functioning of all body systems;
- Reliable blocking of all pain impulses.
And, of course, the disadvantages of the "pure form" of local anesthesia also exist. The main ones are the possibility of serious complications, the inability to control important body functions and the preservation of consciousness, as a result of which psychological trauma is likely to occur.