Pharmacology for Anaesthesia and Intensive Care

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9780521704632c10 CUFX213A/Peck 9780521618168 December 28, 2007 11:41

Section IICoredrugs in anaesthetic practice

for lens surgery. It may produce a burning sensation on initial instillation. It is also

available as a 4% cream for topical anaesthesia to the skin and is used in a similar

fashion to EMLA cream. However, it has a faster onset of action, producing good

topical anaesthesia by 30 minutes, following which it may be removed. Its effects last

for 4–6 hours. It produces some local vasodilatation and erythema, which may assist

venous cannulation.