Local anaesthesia

This article is concerned with the care a patient requires whilst receiving a local anaesthetic. The significance of the administration of a local anaesthetic should never be underestimated by the theatre nurse and he or she must have an understanding of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics involved to provide effective care. Local anaesthesia is differentiated from regional anaesthesia as local anaesthesia affects a very specific part of the body whereas regional anaesthesia affects a much larger area of the body. This article will focus on local anaesthesia. Local anaesthetic agents cause a temporary loss of sensation due to inhibition of nerve endings in a specific part of the body. Clearly such agents are a very useful method of analgesia which can be used as a 'stand-alone' approach or as an adjunct to other methods of analgesia.