Local anesthesia

Local anesthesia. Lidocaine is the prototype. How does it work?
What is it used for?
What are the major adverse effects—remember, it is usually injected into the skin around the area for stitches, etc, but will eventually enter the bloodstream, so how can it affect the body once it moves to the bloodstream?
Why and when would epinephrine be added to the use of lidocaine?

What are the concerns about the effects of epinephrine when it enters the bloodstream?
Topical lidocaine—patient teaching.  Just a general reminder—topical is meant to stay “topical” (versus transdermal, which is applied to the skin to intentionally enter the body)

What teaching should be done about using topical lidocaine to reduce systemic effects?

Lidocaine is also often applied in the mouth for dental work and to the throat topically for invasive procedures like endoscopy and bronchoscopy…If part of the mouth is numb or the back of the throat is numb, what are the safety concerns?

Local anesthetics are what are used in spinal and epidural anesthesia.  Review concerns for patients receiving the medications via this route.