TETRACAINE

Course overview

TETRACAINE IS AN AMINO-ESTER CLASS LOCAL ANESTHETIC. IT HAS BEEN IN USE FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES SINCE THE EARLY 1930S, BUT ITS MOST COMMON USE TODAY IS AS A TOPICAL OPHTHALMIC ANESTHETIC FOR SHORT PROCEDURES ON THE SURFACE OF THE EYE, AS WELL AS THE EARS AND NOSE. SPINAL ANESTHESIA IS ALSO ANOTHER INDICATION. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) LISTS TETRACAINE AS AN ESSENTIAL MEDICATION AND IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER LOCAL ANESTHETIC AGENTS. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE INDICATIONS, MECHANISM OF ACTION, METHODS OF ADMINISTRATION, SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE EFFECTS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, TOXICITY, AND MONITORING, OF TETRACAINE, SO PROVIDERS CAN DIRECT PATIENT THERAPY AS INDICATED AS PART OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM.