A brief review of innovative uses for local anesthetics

Abstract

Purpose of review: Local anesthetics are drugs which have many potentially beneficial actions, especially when used as a continuous intravenous infusion. The following review gives an update on the most recent literature along with some interesting and promising areas where systemic local anesthetics are being implemented.

Recent findings: Surprisingly little research has been conducted with the use of systemic local anesthetics when considering their cost effectiveness, good side effect profile when used in low-dose infusions, and promising results in the available literature. The in-vivo studies, ranging from case reports to randomized controlled trials, have small sample sizes, yet most have found that low-dose systemic infusions are efficacious for various conditions.

Summary: Local anesthetics have many beneficial properties, and promising results have been seen when low-dose infusions are implemented. This review briefly describes the anti-inflammatory properties of local anesthetics and discusses the benefits seen when used systemically for neuroprotection, postoperative ileus, decompression sickness, and glaucoma.