For detailed information refer to the PCDS surgical guidelines.
Injection technique
- Mark out the area to be anaesthetised
- Use a sterican needle (0.40 by 40mm BL/LB 27G by 1.5 inch), which is long and narrow meaning less injections in any given procedure
- As the needle punctures the skin, pinch the skin proximally to reduce the pain
- Advance the needle to the furthest point, then inject slowly as you withdraw the needle backwards - this reduces the risk of injecting into vessels
- The level of injection can be either:
- Subcutaneous - less painful, although if sodium bicarbonate is mixed with LA the pain is reduced in any case
- Intradermal injections - confer benefit to the operator as instant anaesthesia and clearly show up the anaesthetised area as white
