ADJUVANTS IN REGIONAL ANAESTHESIA

Many different receptors, ion channels, are involved in the pathophysiology of pain, which can serve as targets for adjuvant drugs. Despite the advent of long-acting local anesthetics, the improvement of their pharmacokinetics, and the advanced regional anesthesia techniques, they do not fully meet the need for treatment of pain, especially chronic pain. In parallel with the increase in the anesthetic power of local anesthetics, the risk of their systemic toxicity increases. All this justifies the use of adjuvants in regional anesthesia, which is quite logical from the point of view of multimodal analgesia. In this article the authors present a review of current literature data on the use of adjuvants in regional anesthesia. The mechanisms of action, doses, and ways of administration of adjuvant drugs are described.