Pharmacology of analgesia.: Review article II.

Local anaesthetics (LAs) are widely used in veterinary practice to ensure analgesia during small operative procedures, to alleviate certain therapeutic manipulations (e.g. insertion of a catheter) and for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Emphasis has been placed on the structure-activity relationship, mechanisms of action of local anaesthetics and the background of alteration in the function of central nervous and cardiovascular systems which are implicated In the development of undesirable side effects, To help the orientation among the LAs the most important physical, chemical and pharmacological properties of these agents are presented in tables.