Topical anesthesia is the use of a local anesthetic applied directly to the surface of the body, most often the skin but also the front of the eye, the inside of the nose, ear or throat, or the anus and genital area, to numb that surface without an injection. It is delivered in creams, ointments, aerosols, sprays, lotions and jellies, using drugs such as benzocaine, lidocaine and tetracaine among others. Because it numbs only the surface it is applied to, topical anesthesia is generally used for minor procedures and for numbing skin before a needle injection, rather than for surgery requiring anesthesia at greater depth.
Facts
Origin YearYear Karl Koller introduced cocaine, applied topically, as the first local anesthetic. Connections
Treats
Source Wikipedia: Local Anesthesia
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topical_anesthetic, lead sectionQuote, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topical_anesthetic, lead section
A topical anesthetic is a local anesthetic that is used to numb the surface of a body part.
2. Wikipedia: Local Anesthesia
Wikimedia FoundationHistory and development section
Karl Koller introduced cocaine as the first local anesthetic in 1884, revolutionizing pain management.
Treats: Pain, Lead: treats Pain
It allows patients to undergo surgical and dental procedures with reduced pain and distress.
View the Source Frequently Asked Questions
Who introduced the first local anesthetic?
Karl Koller, with cocaine, in 1884.
The Wikipedia history of local anesthesia states that Karl Koller introduced cocaine as the first local anesthetic in 1884, revolutionizing pain management. Topical anesthesia is the surface-applied form of local anesthesia, used to numb skin or mucous surfaces without an injection.
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