Local anesthesia is a type of medical anesthesia, which is an artificially induced suppression of sensitivity (primarily pain) in certain restricted areas of the body. This is ensured by blockade of the peripheral nervous system at various levels.
Local anesthesia makes it possible to perform painlessly various surgical interventions, dressings and diagnostic procedures. In this case, first the pain sensations are suppressed, after which the temperature sensitivity, tactile sensitivity, pressure feeling is disturbed. Unlike the general, with local anesthesia, consciousness and deep sensitivity in humans persist.
Types of local anesthesia and preparations for them
Depending on the site of blocking the spread of the nerve impulse, local anesthesia is divided into several types.
Surface (terminal) anesthesia
This kind of local anesthesia is provided by direct contact of the drug-anesthetic with the tissues of the body. For example, when opening small superficial abscesses, cooling anesthesia is used. To do this, use drugs such as chloroethyl or ether, which when evaporated from the surface of tissues lead to its cooling and freezing.
When carrying out operations on the organs of vision, ENT organs, organs of the genitourinary system, the surface of the skin and mucous membranes is treated by irrigation with anesthetic solutions, or tampons moistened in these solutions are applied to the required areas. In this case, as solutions for local anesthesia, solutions are used:
- novocaine;
- lidocaine ;
- trimecaine;
- dicain, etc.
In addition, for local superficial anesthesia use sprays, aerosols, rinses. If it is necessary to anesthetize the trachea and bronchi, a method of aspiration is used-the introduction of the drug through the catheter.
Local infiltration anesthesia
This type of anesthesia is carried out by impregnating the tissues with anesthetic substances in the area where surgical procedures will be performed. Thus, the nerve signals are blocked due to direct contact with nerve endings.
Infiltration anesthesia can be carried out by various methods. One of the most common methods is the layerwise introduction of a solution of novocaine intradermally with a thin needle in the course of the future incision. In this case, suppression of small nerves and peripheral receptors is achieved.
Regional local anesthesia
Regional anesthesia, which involves the introduction of an anesthetic in the vicinity of a large nerve trunk or plexus, is subdivided into such subspecies:
- conductor;
- epidural;
- spinal cord ;
- intravascular.
Such methods of anesthesia are used in dentistry, in operations on internal organs (stomach, spleen, gall bladder, etc.), on the limbs, with fractures, etc. The solutions are mainly used:
- novocaine;
- ephedrine;
- bupivacaine;
- ropivacaine.
Is local anesthesia harmful?
Despite the widespread use of local anesthesia, including at home, such anesthesia can lead to many unwanted reactions and complications:
- headache;
- allergic reactions;
- nausea;
- decreased blood pressure;
- heart rhythm disturbances;
- convulsions;
- loss of consciousness;
- respiratory insufficiency, etc.
However, comparing this type of anesthesia with general anesthesia, one can come to the conclusion that local anesthesia is safer and more acceptable.