Articaine: an effective adjunctive local anesthetic for painless surgery at the depth of the muscular fascia.
BACKGROUND
Articaine is a unique amide anesthetic that contains a thiophene ring and an additional ester group. The rapid diffusion and enhanced tissue-penetrating properties of articaine enable its use for infiltrative anesthesia.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the effective use of articaine as an adjuvant local anesthetic for surgical excisions requiring dissection at the level of the muscular fascia.


METHODS
We discuss the successful adjunctive use of articaine to provide effective infiltrative anesthesia of muscular fascia. We review the composition, the pharmacologic properties, and the safety profile of articaine.


RESULTS
Adjuvant local anesthesia using articaine results in painless surgery at the level of the muscular fascia without any perioperative complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Articaine is not only well tolerated but also rapidly effective for anesthesia in the fascial plane of the trunk and extremities. We recommend it be considered as an adjunctive local anesthetic for consistently painless cutaneous surgery near the muscular fascia.
Schulze
Keith E
KE
Dermatologic Surgery Center of Houston, P.A., and University of Texas, Houston Medical School 77030, USA.
Cohen
Philip R
PR
Nelson
Bruce R
BR
D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002355:Carticaine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects
D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002355:Carticaine