Introduction
In the medical sciences, administration of anesthesia is a regular practice without which procedures cannot be carried out smoothly. The role of an anesthesia is to provide numbness to an area where a patient is to be operated, making it senseless, and easing the task of getting treatment for any disorder that occurs.
How Local Anesthetics Alter Impulse Propagation
The anesthesia is a form of medicine that is inserted into the body through the form of injections, or through inhalation. Anesthesia may be local, pertaining to a certain part of the body, or general, which affects the entire body, causing unconsciousness.
Local anesthetics are administered to cause a temporary loss of sensory and motor functions in a distinct part of the body, where some specific medical attention is needed (Morgan, et. al, 2002). There are certain actions that take place in the cells and nerves of the body, which involve processes of diffusion and active transport of chemicals like sodium, potassium, etc. The normal function of cells is stopped by the administration of chemicals. The sodium channel receptors are bound to the anesthesia, which halt normal functioning of cells. The sodium ions are unable to flow into the neurons; this also inhibits the potassium ions from coming out of them, which in turn stops the depolarization of the nerve (Copeland, R., 2009).
Whatever anesthetic is used for regional anesthesia, affects the duration of the block of the sodium and potassium ion exchange. One of the most commonly used anesthetics includes bupivacaine hydrochloride, which provides the most effective pain reduction during surgery. Lidocaine is used with other anesthetics to reduce pain effect also. These mixtures work differently according to the procedure that is to be employed to the patient; doctors have their preferences. If the aforementioned anesthetics are used on their own, even then their effects would be the same, so it is not necessary to mix them (Ribotsky et.al, 1996).
The Anesthesia That Would Suit Mrs. Jones Best
Mrs. Jones is a 42 year old healthy woman; she is undergoing a periodontal debridement for two quadrants of her teeth, which are quadrants 1 and 4 respectively. She needs to be given local anesthesia, and there has to be a selection for which anesthesia would suit her condition best (“Basic Injection Technique”). It would be best to administer lidocaine with epinephrine for the first to the eighth teeth, i.e. the first quadrant, for infiltration. This is because lidocaine when combined with epinephrine causes lesser chances of allergic reactions. Not every chemical suits every person upon being injected into the body, just like the case of medicines. Therefore, it is necessary to opt for the anesthetic that would cause the least probability of an allergy.
As for the fourth quadrant, an inferior alveolar block numbing from the 25th to the 32nd tooth will be required. The same anesthetic, that is, lidocaine with epinephrine will be used. This solution is basically a mixture of lidocaine hydrochloride and epinephrine with water. The neuronal membranes will be stabilized and ionic fluxes will be stopped by the entrance of lidocaine into the bloodstream. In order to block nerves, a solution of lidocaine and epinephrine is beneficial because the anesthetic effect is prolonged and is more effective. It is therefore better to opt for the lidocaine and epinephrine injection for Mrs. Jones.
References
Copeland, R. Local Anesthetics 2009. Web.
Morgan, E., Mikhail, M. & Larsons, P. Clinical Anesthesiology 2002. Web.
Ribotsky, B., Berwokitz, K, & Montague, J. Local Anesthetics. Is there an advantage to mixing solutions? Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Vol 86, Issue 10 487-491 1996. Web.