Anesthesia progress
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Anesthesia progress · Jan 2005
ReviewPreemptive analgesia and local anesthesia as a supplement to general anesthesia: a review.
General anesthesia (GA) and local anesthesia (LA) evolved on separate tracks. Procedures that could not be performed under LA were typically conducted under GA. Decoding of afferent linkage of peripheral noxious stimuli has provided important understanding that may change the way we traditionally treat surgical pain. ⋯ General anesthetics can be given in lower minimal alveolar concentration when combined with LA, and recovery characteristics are superior. Increasing evidence suggests that the combined use of GA and LA may reduce the afferent barrage of surgery, and that preemptive analgesia may reduce postoperative pain and should be used in patient care. This article reviews the evidence supporting the combined use of LA or analgesics with GA or sedation to provide improved pain management after surgery.