Anesthesiology/anesthesiology

Advertisement

Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 3/22/2009


Question
why local anesthetic agent dose not work on motor nerve ?
why it act only on sensory nerves?

Answer
Hi there
Not sure what you have been reading or experiencing but local anaesthetic agents do work on motor nerves. However motor nerves tend to be bigger and have a thicker sheath that means that larger amounts of local anaesthetic are needed to provide motor block. We often use weak solutions to provide 'differential block' i.e. blockade of sensory fibres only.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson

Anesthesiology

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based

Expertise

I am a Consultant Anaesthetist in the UK. My interests include ambulatory or day surgery, obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia, acute pain management (use of epidurals and patient controlled analgesia)anaesthesia for surgery on the airway, orthopaedics and most things except brains and hearts. Interest in prehospital care of trauma and provision of medical cover at motorsport events.

Experience


Organizations
European Society of Regional Anaesthesia
British Association of Day Surgery
Obstetric Anaesthetists Association
Association of Anaesthetists

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.