title: Complications of local anesthesia used in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
abstract: Local anesthetics are used routinely in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Local anesthetics are safe and effective drugs but do have risks that practitioners need to be aware of. This article reviews the complications of local anesthesia. A brief history is provided and the regional and systemic complications that can arise from using local anesthesia are discussed. These complications include paresthesia, ocular complications, allergies, toxicity, and methemoglobinemia. Understanding the risks involved with local anesthesia decreases the chances of adverse events occurring and ultimately leads to improved patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Southern California School of Dentistry, Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center, 925 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.forename: Dennis-Duke R
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McAndrews
mesh_terms: D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000139:chemically induced; D012307:Risk Factors; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local