Topical local anesthesia: focus on lidocaine–tetracaine combination

Abstract

Davide Giordano,1 Maria Gabriella Raso,2 Carmine Pernice,1 Vanni Agnoletti,3 Verter Barbieri1 1Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Department of Surgery, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova – IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, 2Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Medicine Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, 3Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Department of Cardiology, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, and Critical Care Medicine, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova – IRCCS, Reggio Emilia, Italy Abstract: In recent years, the popularity of aesthetic and cosmetic procedures, often performed in outpatient settings, has strongly renewed interest in topical anesthetics. A number of different options are widely used, alone or in combination, in order to minimize the pain related to surgery. Moreover, interest in local anesthetics in the treatment of some painful degenerative conditions such as myofascial trigger point pain, shoulder impingement syndrome, or patellar tendinopathy is increasing. Numerous clinical trials have shown that lidocaine–tetracaine combination, recently approved for adults aged 18 or older, is effective and safe in managing pain. The present paper gives an overview of the recent literature regarding the efficacy and safety of lidocaine–tetracaine combination use. Keywords: lidocaine, tetracaine, local anesthetics, efficacy, safety