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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 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...

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.

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...

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...

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia

Published on: January 31, 2025

Controversial issues in pediatric regional anesthesia.

Valeria Mossetti¹, Giorgio Ivani

¹Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Piazza Polonia, Turin, Italy.

Paediatric Anaesthesia

|July 23, 2011

Summary

Regional anesthesia in children is a safe and effective technique, comparable to general anesthesia. This review addresses ongoing discussions to enhance the reliability and safety of pediatric regional blocks.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2026

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia

Spinal Sonography for Ultrasound-Guided Lumbar Neuraxial Anesthesia

Published on: January 31, 2025

Area of Science:

Pediatric Anesthesiology
Regional Anesthesia Techniques

Background:

Regional anesthesia is widely adopted in pediatric centers.
Studies indicate low complication rates, suggesting safety comparable to general anesthesia.
Certain aspects, like compartment syndrome and block performance under general anesthesia, remain subjects of discussion.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent data on pediatric regional anesthesia.
To address ongoing debates regarding risk prevention and technique optimization.
To provide updated answers on controversial topics in pediatric regional blocks.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent studies and surveys on pediatric regional anesthesia.
Analysis of data concerning safety, complications, and specific techniques.
Discussion of controversial aspects such as compartment syndrome and test doses.

Main Results:

Regional anesthesia is a well-established, safe, and effective technique in pediatric practice.
Complication rates are very low, supporting its safety profile against general anesthesia.
Several aspects require continued discussion to further improve safety and reliability.

Conclusions:

Pediatric regional anesthesia is a safe and effective modality.
Further research and discussion are needed to refine techniques and address specific risks.
This review offers updated insights into optimizing pediatric regional anesthesia practices.