What it means
A drug such as lidocaine blocks the nerves in the area it touches, stopping pain signals for a time. It is used for stitches, small skin procedures, dental work and some minor surgery. It may be mixed with epinephrine to make it last longer and reduce bleeding. Too much of the drug reaching the blood can cause toxicity: numbness around the mouth, a metallic taste, ringing in the ears, confusion and, in severe cases, seizures and heart rhythm problems.
For the nurse
Ask about allergies to numbing drugs. After the procedure, protect the numb area from injury, such as burns or biting the tongue after dental work, until feeling returns, and report signs of toxicity at once.
At a glance
| Spanish | anestesia local |
|---|---|
| Also written | local anaesthesia |
Related terms
anesthetic
A drug that causes loss of feeling, with or without loss of consciousness.
epidural anesthesia
Pain relief or numbness from an anesthetic drug given through a thin catheter into the space just outside the covering of the spinal cord.
anesthesia
Loss of feeling or sensation, often brought on by drugs so that surgery or a procedure can be done without pain.