title: Epinephrine in digital blocks: revisited.
abstract: Digital block anesthesia with epinephrine, ring technique, and digital tourniquet have been implicated in causing finger gangrene. An extensive review of the literature provided no case of finger gangrene attributed solely to the adjunctive use of epinephrine with lidocaine for digital block. By causing vasoconstriction, epinephrine complements the local analgesic by prolonging the duration of action and providing a temporary hemostatic effect. Epinephrine augmentation of digital block anesthesia was used in the treatment of 23 finger injuries without a complication.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0724, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wilhelmi
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Blackwell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mancoll
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine; D004837:Epinephrine