peri-operative care series

French, J
Sharp, LM

Series Editors
E: [email protected], [email protected]
Local anaesthetics
¹Consultant Anaesthetist, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
²Specialist Registrar in Anaesthetics, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK

CORRESPONDENCE TO

James French, Consultant Anaesthetist, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, City Hospital Campus, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK

E: [email protected]

Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 94(2):p 76-80, March 2012. | DOI: 10.1308/003588412X13171221502185

Local anaesthetics are being used increasingly as analgesia and for anaesthesia, as a supplement to or as an alternative to general anaesthesia. In the current economic climate, general anaesthesia for a number of procedures is now rapidly becoming an unaffordable luxury. New techniques for plexus and nerve blocks coupled with ultrasonography technology have made many operations eminently suitable for a local anaesthetic technique.

The surge in popularity of local anaesthetic use for operating brings with it greater patient comfort and effective pain relief, with faster convalescence. Greater understanding of the agents and their controversies has resulted in a new and stabilised relationship between their use and their toxicity. However, the plethora of available agents, their concentrations and adjuvants may lead to complications, dosing errors and potential toxicity. This article by French and Sharp is a practical guide for all surgeons who may only occasionally use these agents.

JYOTI SHAH

Associate Editor