Local Anesthesia

Overview

Local anaesthesia can be used as a sole agent or as an adjunct to general anaesthesia. The former may cause some complications such as infection, bleeding and allergic reaction. The types of local anaesthesia are topical anaesthesia, local infiltration, regional nerve blocks and central neuraxial blocks (epidural and spinal anaesthesia). Examples of topical anaesthesia are EMLA (eutectic mixture of local anaesthetics) and lignocaine. Some of the regional nerve blocks are axillary brachial plexus block, femoral and sciatic nerve block. Epidural anaesthesia is slower in onset than spinal anaesthesia and carries a higher failure rate and much difficult technique than spinal anaesthesia. EMLA cream is common among the children requiring injections, regional and nerve blocks are common in limb surgery. Epidurals are much difficult then spinal anesthesia however it can be topped up postoperatively and used as continuous infusion. Spinal anaesthesia has a quick onset of action but a short duration.