Local Anaesthesia
Local anaesthesia is usually a one-time injection of medicine that numbs a small area of the body. It is used for minor procedures such as performing dental procedures, skin biopsy or breast biopsy, repairing broken bones or stitching deep cuts. The patient will be awake and alert and may feel some pressure, but no pain in the area being treated.
When is local anaesthesia used?
Local anesthetics have made it possible to perform many surgical procedures quickly, with less preparation and a shorter recovery time. Side effects and complications are rare and usually minor, like soreness where the medication was injected. Local anaesthetics can either be administered via injection or topically, on the surface of the skin.
Many minor surgeries might warrant additional sedation, aside from the local anaesthetic.However, if the patient prefers not to be sedated, they can ask the anesthesiologist if the procedure can be performed safely with just local anaesthesia.
