local anesthetic (redirected from Anesthetics, local)

anesthetic /an·es·thet·ic/ (an″es-thet´ik)

1. characterized by anesthesia; numb.

2. pertaining to or producing anesthesia.

3. an agent that produces anesthesia.

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local anesthetic  an agent, e.g., lidocaine, procaine, or tetracaine, that produces anesthesia by paralyzing sensory nerve endings or nerve fibers at the site of application. The conduction of nerve impulses is blocked by stopping the entry of sodium into nerve cells.

topical anesthetic  a local anesthetic applied directly to the area to be anesthetized, usually the mucous membranes or the skin.

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local anesthetic

n.

An agent that, when applied directly to mucous membranes or when injected about the nerves, produces loss of sensation by inhibiting nerve excitation or conduction.

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Local anesthetic

Medication applied topically to the skin or administered through an injection that deadens a specific part of the body and inhibits the sensation of pain.

Mentioned in: Radial Keratotomy, Urinary Catheterization

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local anesthetic,

a medication used to prevent the transmission of impulses through nerves to eliminate sensation in a defined area of the body. It can also prevent motor and atonomic function in this area. The effect is transient (time limited). Drugs available for local anesthesia are classified as members of the ester or the amide family. Specific preparations are available for topical administration, infiltration, and various kinds of regional administration, including field block, regional block, epidural block, and spinal block. People who are sensitive to local anesthetics of one group often can tolerate those of the other group. The vascularity of the injection site, the speed with which the drug is given, the rapidity of action of the drug, and the presence of epinephrine in the solution may affect the adverse response.

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anesthetic (an´esthet´ik),

n a drug that produces loss of feeling or sensation generally or locally.

anesthetic, aerosol spray topical,

n application of an aerosol spray directly on the surface of a mucous membrane, resulting in loss of nerve conduction.

anesthetic agent,

n See agent, anesthetic.

anesthetic, allergy to,

n hypersensitivity to a local agent, which is fairly common with esters but rarely occurs with amides. Allergy to bisulfites in vasoconstrictors also needs to be considered, as well as agents containing sulfites.

n a local anesthetic agent made from a specific class of chemical compounds that are broken down by the liver and are generally considered more effective and longer-lasting than esters. This type of anesthetic rarely causes allergic reactions.

anesthetic, antioxidants in,

n a preservative substance added by the manufacturer to a local anesthetic cartridge containing a vasoconstrictor. Metabisulfite and sodium bisulfite are the most commonly used antioxidants.

anesthetic, cartridge,

n a capsulelike vessel containing the local anesthetic solution that is inserted into the syringe in preparation for an injection. Older term is carpule.

anesthetic, ester,

n a short-acting local anesthetic agent made from a specific class of chemical compounds that are broken down by blood enzymes. They are less effective than amide anesthetics and more likely to cause allergic reactions. No longer used as an injection in the United States but still used as a topical agent. See also benzocaine.

anesthetic, hydrophilic group

n a portion of a local anesthetic agent's chemical structure, with strong water-attracting properties that enable the diffusion of the agent through the water portions of the tissues to the final destination in the nerves. Typically described in opposition to the lipophilic portion of a local anesthetic agent.

anesthetic, intermediate chain linkage,

n the connecting linkage between the lipophilic and hydrophilic portions of a local anesthetic agent's chemical structure. Local anesthetic agent's classification is performed on the basis of whether the intermediate chain is made up of an ester or an amide. See also ester and amide.

anesthetic, lipophilic group

n a portion of a local anesthetic agent's chemical structure, with its fat-attracting properties that enable the agent to pass through the lipid-membrane of the tissues in order to reach the nerve destination. Typically described in opposition to the hydrophilic portion of the local anesthetic agent.

anesthetic, local,

n a drug that, when injected into the tissues and absorbed into a nerve, will temporarily interrupt its property of conduction. See also anesthetic, ester and anesthetics, amide.

anesthetic, topical,

n a drug applied to the surface of the skin or mucosal tissues that produces local insensibility to pain. See also benzocaine.

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anesthetic

1. pertaining to, characterized by, or producing anesthesia.

2. a drug or agent used to abolish the sensation of pain, to achieve adequate muscle relaxation during surgery, to calm fear and allay anxiety. See also anesthesia.

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dissociative anesthetic

an anesthetic causing interruption of cerebral association pathways between the limbic system and cortical system. It produces a catalepsy-like state, in which the patient feels dissociated from its environment, and marked analgesia. Ketamine, phencyclidine and tiletamine hydrochloride are examples.

gaseous anesthetic

inhalation anesthesia. Halothane and isoflurane are commonly used agents.

general anesthetic

see general anesthesia.

anesthetic-induced rhabdomyolysis

see porcine stress syndrome.

inhalation anesthetic

gas or volatile liquid that produces general anesthesia when inhaled. The older agents, ether and cyclopropane, have been replaced by halothane, enflurane and isoflurane.

injectable anesthetic

sedative-hypnotic drugs produce anesthesia when administered in large doses. It can be administered intraperitoneally, but intravenous injection is much the most common route. Short-acting drugs, such as thiopentone, are used alone for very rapid procedures or for instrument examinations, or as induction for a longer term inhalation anesthetic. See also barbiturate. One anesthetic agent that is administered intramuscularly is ketamine.

irreversible anesthetic

the injection of a substance that destroys the peripheral nerve, e.g. ethyl or propyl alcohol.

local anesthetic

a drug that blocks nerve transmission in the nerves affected by the local presence of the drug. It may be applied topically, e.g. into the conjunctival sac, or by injection into tissues near the target nerve. Most local anesthetics are in the -caine series.

anesthetic machine

apparatus or equipment used to administer gaseous anesthetic agents; functions of the apparatus should include,

1. delivery of oxygen,

2. removal of carbon dioxide,

3. quantifiable delivery of anesthetic vapor or gas, and

4. capability of providing artificial respiration to the patient.

anesthetic scavenging

the use of any device to reduce the pollution of the air in surgeries caused by exhaled anesthetic gases. May be canisters of filtering material attached to the machine or suction lines at stragetic positions in the theater.

volatile anesthetic

see inhalation anesthetic (above).

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local anesthetic

Pain control An agent administered at the site of pain or anticipated pain–eg, before dental work or surgical incision Types Esters–hydrolyzed by pseudocholinesterase and amides–metabolized in the liver and excreted in urine; a vasoconstrictor, usually epinephrine, diluted to 1:200,000 may added to limit absorption, and enable use of more anesthetic. Cf General anesthesia.