title: LAT gel, a powerful tool underused in the repair of paediatric lacerations.
abstract: Paediatric lacerations presenting to emergency departments are a common cause of referral to surgical specialties in the UK. LAT gel (lidocaine, adrenaline, and tetracaine) is a safe and effective topical anaesthetic that can aid with the closure of uncomplicated lacerations, particularly in the paediatric trauma setting. The benefits to both the patient and management in terms of the avoidance of a general anaesthetic and the freeing up of hospital resources (e.g. beds, staffing, emergency theatre) make it an invaluable tool in the arsenal of the emergency department. The authors describe a reliable method of anaesthetizing lacerations with LAT gel and question its underuse within the emergency departments in the South West region of the UK.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust, Bath, UK. Electronic address: benwangbds@googlemail.com.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: V K P
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Felstead
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D003646:Debridement; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000601:surgery*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013748:Tetracaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005782:Gels; D013748:Tetracaine; D008012:Lidocaine; D004837:Epinephrine