Anesthesia, Local: Purpose
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More about Anesthesia, Local:
Definition Purpose Recommended dosage Precautions Side effects Interactions Resources |
Local anesthetics are used to prevent patients from feeling pain during medical, surgical, or dental procedures. Over-the-counter local anesthetics are also available to provide temporary relief from pain, irritation, and itching caused by various conditions, such as cold sores, canker sores, sore throats, sunburn, insect bites, poison ivy, and minor cuts and scratches.
Types of surgery or medical procedures that regularly make use of local or regional anesthesia include the following:
- biopsies in which skin or tissue samples are taken for diagnostic procedures
- childbirth
- surgeries on the arms, hands, legs, or feet
- eye surgery
- surgeries involving the urinary tract or sexual organs
Surgeries involving the chest and abdomen are usually performed under general anesthesia.
Local and regional anesthesia have advantages over general anesthesia in that patients can avoid some unpleasant side effects, can receive longer lasting pain relief, have reduced blood loss, and maintain a sense of psychological comfort by not losing consciousness.
— Nancy Ross-Flanigan
