Context

Local anaesthetics are amongst the most widely used drugs in any emergency department.

It is therefore essential that emergency medicine clinicians can use these drugs safely and effectively.

To achieve this, you need to:

⦁ Choose the right drug
⦁ Choose the right dose
⦁ Administer the drug safely
⦁ Be able to recognise and manage side effects correctly and promptly

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine curriculum[1] contains the following descriptors:

ACCS

⦁ Provide basic management of wounds, soft tissue injuries, fractures and dislocations including local anaesthetic techniques
⦁ Provide safe use of basic local anaesthetic techniques

Higher

⦁ Manage all wounds, soft tissues injuries, fractures and dislocations including local anaesthetic techniques and sedation.

This session does not attempt to describe specific local anaesthetic techniques.