Injectible anesthetic

Injectable anesthetics are anesthetics that can be injected under the skin via a hypodermic needle and syringe that block pain by directly inhibiting conduction of impulses sent along nerve fibers, thus the sensation of pain never reaches the brain. These medications may be used in a completely localized area (i.e. in a finger laceration prior to suturing), or a nerve block may be established throughout an entire extremity (sometimes used in conjunction with heavy IV sedation in patients prone to reaction to general anesthesia).

In the cases of C-sections, for example, the entire lower torso is anestitized via an epidural (basically a lower spinal-cord nerve block).

See Also

• Xylocaine
• Marcaine