There are many local nerve blocks to learn during your anaesthetic training.
The two most commonly-used local anaesthetic agents for such blocks are:
- Lidocaine: previously called lignocaine in the UK. Also known as xylocaine
- Bupivacaine
Other agents used include:
Fig 1 Structure of lidocaine
Fig 2 Structure of bupivacaine
Prilocaine
Prilocaine is the local anaesthetic most commonly-used for IVRA, used when performing a Bier's block to anaesthetize a broken wrist that needs manipulating in the Emergency Department.
Ropivacaine
Epidural and spinal anaesthesia will be introduced at a later stage in your training. The most commonly-used agents for these techniques are the same as for local nerve blockade, but you may also see ropivacaine used.