Anesthesia means the absence of sensation. Local anesthesia, means putting a medication, such as lidocaine, around the affected area to make it pain free.

Local anesthesia can be used to prevent pain during surgery. Sometimes this type of anesthesia is used by itself, with no other medications, so that the patient remains wide awake. It can also be used with sedative drugs to relax the patient during surgery.

A variety of local anesthetic drugs are available. Lidocaine, also called xylocaine, is the most common of the short-acting local anesthetics. It is used in many procedures. Epinephrine (adrenaline), may be added to lidocaine to make the drug last longer and constrict the bloods vessels, decreasing bleeding. Or, sodium bicarbonate, may be added to lessen the burning sensation when it is given.

Most local anesthetic techniques involve using a syringe and needle to inject drugs into the correct place. This can hurt. The local anesthetic may sting, like a bee sting, during injection. Most patients consider this discomfort a small price to pay for pain relief. When enough of the right drug is injected in the right place, it will soon provide pain relief. You may still be able to feel touch, pressure and tugging. But, you should not feel pain.

Local anesthesia avoids some of the risks and side effects of general anesthesia. But, local anesthesia is not suitable for all surgery.