Locoregional anaesthetic

Locoregional anaesthetics are used to temporarily block the sensation of pain in a specific (but more or less large) area of the body. They can be administered a doctors practice (for example a dermatologist), at a dental practice or in hospital.

What is the mechanism of action of the locoregional anaesthetics?

The locoregional anaesthetics temporarily block nerve impulse transmission only in the areas selected. Some are used to put a small area or entire region of the body to sleep. For example, for an epidural during childbirth, the anaesthetist-intensive care physician injects the anaesthetic into the peridural space around the dura mater. The anaesthetic then acts on the nerve roots coming in and leaving this area.

Do they have contraindications or precautions?

Administration of locoregional anaesthetics can cause accidental damage to a nerve when they are injected. To prevent these accidents, anaesthetists-intensive care physicians can now identify nerves by ultrasound which is performed before the procedure. Contraindications to the use of these substances include any local or general infection in the patient and coagulation problems.

Source: Interview with Dr Véronique Bazin, anaesthetist at the Nantes University Hospital, 16 June 2011