A CLINICAL EVALUATION OF XYLOCAINE ANESTHESIA

¹ Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland

1. The clinical efficiency of 2 per cent Xylocaine with 1/80,000 Adrenalin has been compared with standard 2 per cent procaine/Adrenalin in a series of 329 injections.

2. Statistical data obtained from the 3 main groups (local infiltrations, mental blocks, and mandibular blocks) show that Xylocaine is superior to procaine in rapidity and onset, depth of anesthesia, and extent, and that duration is greater. It was further shown to be effective in very much lower doses than procaine.

3. The relationship between dose and site on one hand, and duration and extent on the other was investigated.

4. Confidence limits for Xylocaine dosages in all regions were established with 98 per cent confidence statistically, and graphs to indicate time-dosage relationships for both anesthetics were plotted.

5. Based upon these data, a series of doses lower than those in general use for everyday dental procedures has been put forward to reduce still more the danger of toxicity, and the duration and motor effects where necessary, avoiding mechanical damage to the tissues.