Trimecaine is probably a Czech discovery (in light of complex pharmacological and clinical evaluation and practical deployment) although its preparation was published by Löfgren in 1946.[2]
Action mechanism, pharmacokinetics
Like other local anesthetics belonging in the amide group trimecaine decreases the cell membrane permeability, causes depolarization and shortens the action potential.[3] Anesthetic effect starts within 15 minutes and remains 60–90 minutes. Its biological half-life is ca. 90 minutes. 10% of trimecaine is excreted unchanged (90% as its metabolites). It passes through the hematoencephalic and placental barriers.[4]
Indication
Trimecaine has two main application fields. The first one is local anesthesia (topical, infiltrational, topical mucosal and inhalational, spinal and Bier's intravenous). It is used in concentrations 0.4 up to 4%, in some cases (e.g. in stomatology) in mixtures with adrenaline. The other field is prophylaxis and therapy of ventriculous arrhythmia on myocardial infarction and in cardiosurgery. It is used also for prophylaxis of sympathetic reaction during trachealintubations.[3][4]