Local Anesthesia and Conduction Anesthesia

This study is devoted to the characterization of popular local anesthetics and the determination of the most
effective drugs for local anesthesia. The authors conducted a review of current scientific publications examining the
properties of local anesthetics, their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics, as well as methods of application.
The study was carried out in two directions: using traditional printed sources and online databases. The collected
data allowed for a comparative analysis of the medications, taking into account their beneficial properties and potential
side effects. As a result of this analysis, the drug with the optimal balance of favorable characteristics was identified.
During the research, key criteria determining the choice of the drug were identified: efficacy, duration of the latent period,
duration of action, and level of toxicity. To perform local anesthesia during a surgical intervention, an anesthetic with
high efficacy and a rapid onset of action (short latency time) is required. It is essential that the anesthetic provide a longlasting
analgesic effect, allowing for a single administration even during prolonged surgery while maintaining low toxicity.
Seven local anesthetics were analyzed in the study: procaine (novocaine), lidocaine, tetracaine (dicaine), benzocaine
(anesthesin), articaine, mepivacaine, and bupivacaine. Comparative data revealed certain disadvantages for each drug.
Procaine (novocaine) is prone to causing allergic reactions, while lidocaine is characterized by a relatively short duration
of action. The high toxicity of tetracaine (dicaine) makes it unsuitable for conduction, infiltration, and epidural anesthesia.
Benzocaine (anesthesin), due to its low water solubility, is not suitable for parenteral administration. Articaine stands out
among local anesthetics due to its high potency-to-toxicity ratio, which accounts for its priority use in clinical practice as
a local anesthetic.