Lokaalanesteesiat

Lokaalanesteesiat is a medical technique used to temporarily block sensation in a specific area of the body while the patient remains conscious. It is commonly employed for minor surgical, dental, dermatological, and diagnostic procedures where general anesthesia is unnecessary or undesirable. Local anesthesia works by blocking sodium channels in nerve fibers, interrupting the transmission of pain signals from the targeted region.

Techniques used to achieve local anesthesia include topical applications (creams, gels, sprays) on skin or mucous membranes; infiltration anesthesia, where anesthetic is injected into tissues near the targeted nerves; nerve blocks, which interrupt sensation along a nerve trunk; field blocks, which cover a broader region; and intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA), also known as a Bier block, which uses a tourniquet to confine the drug to a limb.

Common local anesthetics include lidocaine (lignocaine), mepivacaine, prilocaine, and bupivacaine. They may be used alone or with vasoconstrictors such as epinephrine to prolong effect and reduce bleeding, though caution is advised in end-arterial regions or in patients with cardiovascular disease. Onset and duration vary by agent and technique: topical formulations act within minutes, injections typically produce numbness within a few minutes and last from about 30 minutes to several hours.

Safety is generally favorable, but risks can include local tissue irritation, allergic reactions to ester or amide anesthetics, systemic toxicity if absorbed in high amounts, or nerve injury. Contraindications include patient refusal, infection at the site, or known allergy to the anesthetic. Lokaalanesteesiat has a long history and remains essential for comfortable, targeted procedures.