Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

Intravenous regional anesthesia or the Bier block technique is used to anesthetize a specific limb or extremity. It uses exsanguinated or blood-drained vessels to transport local anesthetics or LAs to the peripheral nerve trunks. Lidocaine without vasoconstrictors like epinephrine is most commonly used for this technique. Other drugs used are prilocaine, ropivacaine, and chloroprocaine. Bupivacaine is not recommended for this technique due to its high cardiac toxicity.
One of the advantages of...

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia

Depending on the target organ, local anesthetics (LAs) can be administered via various routes. In surface anesthesia, LAs are applied directly to the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. It is widely used for topical skin numbing before venipuncture or minor surgical procedures. Commonly used surface local anesthetics are lidocaine or benzocaine sprays or creams. Surface anesthesia occurs within 5 minutes and lasts for about 60 minutes. One of the main disadvantages of topical anesthesia is...

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...

General Anesthesia: Overview

General Anesthesia: Overview

Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...

Local Anesthetics: Pharmacokinetics

Local Anesthetics: Pharmacokinetics

The potency and duration of action of local anesthetics (LAs) are determined by their pharmacokinetics. Pharmacokinetics describes how LAs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated from the body. When administered to the vascular tissues, LAs are quickly absorbed and enter the systemic circulation, reducing their localized effects. Adding vasoconstrictors such as epinephrine to LAs reduces their absorption into the systemic circulation, making them clinically effective. The...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Systemic Heparinization After Neuraxial Anesthesia in Vascular Surgery: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis.

Journal of cardiothoracic and vascular anesthesia·2026

Same author

Validity of Glucose Measurement Methods During Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Canadian journal of diabetes·2026

Same author

2025 Labat lecture: the next paradigm - integrating artificial intelligence and robotics to advance regional anesthesia for patients.

Regional anesthesia and pain medicine·2026

Same author

Significant new disability after major non-cardiac surgery in older adults aged 65 years and older in Canada: a multicentre prospective cohort study.

The lancet. Healthy longevity·2025

Same author

Day-of-surgery quality gaps in glycemic management: a retrospective cohort study.

Perioperative medicine (London, England)·2025

Same author

In Reply: Comment on: The evolution and formalization of anesthesia assistant roles across Canada.

Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia

Published on: January 31, 2025

From basic concepts to emerging technologies in regional anesthesia.

Derek Dillane¹, Ban C H Tsui

¹Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology

|August 7, 2010

Summary

Recent advancements in regional anesthesia challenge traditional concepts. Ultrasound improves needle-nerve visualization, but intraneural injection risks and ultrasound resolution limitations persist, necessitating further innovation.

More Related Videos

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Published on: November 21, 2025

Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics

Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics

Published on: July 23, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia

Published on: January 31, 2025

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Published on: November 21, 2025

Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics

Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics

Published on: July 23, 2020

Area of Science:

Anesthesiology
Regional Anesthesia
Ultrasound Technology

Background:

The practice of regional anesthesia is evolving, influenced by technological progress.
Traditional methods are being re-evaluated against new innovations.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in regional anesthesia.
To assess the interplay between established techniques and novel technologies.

Main Methods:

Review of current literature on ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia.
Analysis of technological innovations impacting regional anesthesia.

Main Results:

Ultrasound enhances needle-nerve visualization, revealing increased intraneural injection frequency without guaranteed complications.
Nerve tissue composition influences injury risk; ultrasound resolution limits differentiation of injection types.
Perineural electrical impedance may aid in distinguishing tissue types.
Development focuses on improving ultrasound imaging and ultra-long-acting anesthetics.
Evidence on ultrasound reducing local anesthetic toxicity is inconclusive; lipid emulsion therapy is standard.

Conclusions:

Emerging evidence continuously challenges fundamental concepts in regional anesthesia.
The field requires ongoing adaptation to new experimental and clinical findings.