Local anesthesia

Local anesthesia temporarily blocks sensation in a limited body area, usually by interrupting nerve signals without causing unconsciousness.

Voltage-gated sodium channel: A membrane protein that opens in response to voltage changes and allows sodium ions to cross. Local anesthetics bind these channels and prevent the electrical impulses that carry pain signals.
Local infiltration: Injection of anesthetic into tissue around a small operative or injury site. This technique confines numbness to the area where minor procedures are performed.
General anesthesia: A medically induced state of unconsciousness and unresponsiveness used for surgery or procedures. Unlike local anesthesia, it suppresses consciousness rather than limiting numbness to one body area.
Local anesthetic systemic toxicity: A potentially life-threatening reaction to excessive local anesthetic concentrations in the bloodstream. Accidental intravascular injection or excessive dosing can affect the brain and heart.
Nerve conduction: The propagation of electrical signals along nerve cells. Local anesthesia works by interrupting this process in sensory nerves near the treatment site.
Dental anesthesia: Local anesthesia used to numb teeth and surrounding oral tissues during dental care. Dental injections are a familiar application of local anesthetics in a confined sensory territory.
Sedation: Medication-induced reduction in alertness, ranging from relaxation to deep unresponsiveness. Sedation can accompany local anesthesia, but it does not itself block sensation at the procedure site.
Methemoglobinemia: A disorder in which oxidized hemoglobin cannot carry oxygen effectively to tissues. Prilocaine and benzocaine can trigger this uncommon complication of local anesthetic exposure.
Lidocaine: A widely used local anesthetic that blocks voltage-gated sodium channels. Its rapid onset and availability in several formulations make it a common example of the drug class.
Spinal anesthesia: A regional anesthetic technique that injects medication into cerebrospinal fluid in the lower spine. It uses local anesthetic to block sensation below the injection level.

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