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Related Concept Videos

Local Anesthetics: Common Agents and Their Applications01:23

Local Anesthetics: Common Agents and Their Applications

1.3K
Local anesthetics (LAs) are commonly used for various applications in medical and dental procedures. Some of the common agents used are cocaine, lidocaine, and bupivacaine.
Cocaine is an ester of benzoic acid and methylecgogine. It is used to anesthetize and vasoconstrict locally. Currently, it is used primarily for topical applications. It is beneficial for surgeries on the upper respiratory tract, providing anesthesia and shrinking the mucosa. Cocaine in the form of cocaine hydrochloride is...
1.3K
Local Anesthetics: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship01:30

Local Anesthetics: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

4.9K
Local anesthetics (LAs) are drugs that induce a temporary loss of sensation in a limited body area, preventing pain. Cocaine was the first local anesthetic discovered in the late 19th century. Cocaine is a benzoic acid ester obtained from the leaves of coca shrubs and was often used for its psychotropic effects. Cocaine was first isolated in 1860 by Albert Niemann. Sigmund Freud studied the physiological actions of cocaine. Carl Koller later introduced it into clinical practice in 1884 as a...
4.9K
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

2.0K
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...
2.0K
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

1.0K
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...
1.0K
Local Anesthetics: Pharmacokinetics01:13

Local Anesthetics: Pharmacokinetics

1.5K
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...
1.5K
Local Anesthetics: Mechanism of Action01:23

Local Anesthetics: Mechanism of Action

4.4K
Local anesthetics (LAs) block sensory and motor impulses by inhibiting the sodium channels on the nerve cell membranes. This induces temporary loss of sensation, relieving pain in a specific body area.
Local anesthetics are amphiphilic molecules consisting of a hydrophobic aromatic part linked to a hydrophilic group by an ester or amide linkage. They are weak bases and are usually available as salts, which increases their solubility and stability. Once administered, LAs exist in the body either...
4.4K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics
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Local anaesthetics: 10 essentials.

Philipp Lirk1, Susanne Picardi, Markus W Hollmann

  • 1From the Department of Anaesthesiology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands (PL, MWH), and the Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany (SP).

European Journal of Anaesthesiology
|September 6, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Local anesthetics block sodium channels for pain relief but can cause toxicity. Intralipid aids overdose management, while new agents and techniques may offer future pain management options.

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CO2-Lasertonsillotomy Under Local Anesthesia in Adults
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Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Anesthesiology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Local anesthetics share a common mechanism of action: blocking voltage-gated sodium channels in axons.
  • They exhibit diverse physicochemical properties influencing their clinical use.
  • Beyond nerve blockade, local anesthetics impact inflammation and hemostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address key clinical questions concerning local anesthetic use.
  • To review efficacy, toxicity, and emerging applications of local anesthetics.
  • To explore future directions in local anesthetic development and delivery.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on local anesthetic pharmacology and clinical application.
  • Analysis of mechanisms of action, including different pathways of entry into the axon.
  • Evaluation of systemic toxicity, management strategies like Intralipid, and potential perioperative effects.

Main Results:

  • Local anesthetics' efficacy is reduced by local inflammation.
  • Systemic toxicity can be fatal but is minimized with preventive measures.
  • Intralipid is a supportive treatment for local anesthetic overdose, not a definitive antidote.
  • The role of local anesthetics in perioperative tumor progression remains uncertain.

Conclusions:

  • Meticulous regional anesthesia technique is crucial for patient safety.
  • New sodium channel blockers and delivery systems like liposomal bupivacaine are emerging.
  • Older agents are being revisited, and multimodal approaches may evolve pain management paradigms.