Continuing Education Activity

Tetracaine is an amino-ester class local anesthetic. It has been in use for a variety of purposes since the early 1930s, but its most common use today is as a topical ophthalmic anesthetic for short procedures on the surface of the eye, as well as the ears and nose. Spinal anesthesia is also another indication. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists tetracaine as an essential medication and is relatively inexpensive compared to other local anesthetic agents. This activity outlines the indications, mechanism of action, methods of administration, significant adverse effects, contraindications, toxicity, and monitoring, of tetracaine, so providers can direct patient therapy as indicated as part of the interprofessional team.

Objectives:

• Identify the mechanism of action of tetracaine.
• Summarize the indications for using tetracaine as an anesthetic agent.
• Review any potential adverse events associated with tetracaine.
• Explain the importance of improving care coordination among the interprofessional team to enhance the delivery of care for patients who can benefit from tetracaine anesthesia.

Indications

Tetracaine is an amino-ester class local anesthetic. Clinicians have used it for a variety of purposes since the early 1930s, but its most common use today is as a topical ophthalmic anesthetic for short procedures on the surface of the eye, as well as the ears and nose. Spinal anesthesia is also another indication. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists tetracaine as an essential drug and is relatively inexpensive compared to other local anesthetic agents.[1]

Mechanism of Action

Tetracaine functions primarily via blockade of intracellular sodium channels. The drug travels in non-ionized form across the lipid bilayer membrane and dissociates into its ionized form (cation/conjugate acid), which then acts on the alpha-subunit of the Na-channel. The drug functions as an allosteric inhibitor on the Na-channel when it is in the open-activated state; thus, the drug binds and activates faster when a Na/K channel for a particular nerve is in use. This blockade must occur at three successive nodes of Ranvier along an axon for nerve conduction to be impaired. Sodium influx is prevented during this process, thereby stopping cellular depolarization and any potential action potential developing.[2][3]

Administration

Tetracaine has a pKa of 8.46 at room temperature (25 degrees C), which is moderate, although the drug has a relatively quick onset of action, especially for intrathecal administration. Lipid solubility for tetracaine is high at a relative value of 80; thus, it is among the most potent of any local anesthetic. Its protein binding is moderate at 75%, allowing a relative duration of action up to 200 minutes. The drug undergoes hydrolysis primarily via plasma cholinesterase (butyrylcholinesterase), produced in the liver, into an alcohol and para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). There is also a small amount of metabolism by RBC cholinesterase. There is a minimal amount of tetracaine excreted unmetabolized in the urine. It has a pH of 4.5 to 6.5 in plain solution. It is commonly administered topically, subcutaneously, or via intrathecal injection.[4]

Dosing for some common indications for the ophthalmic formulation (as the most common use) include the following:

• Corneal foreign body removal: 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye every 5 to 10 minutes for 1 to 3 doses. This regimen can also be used for suture removal.
• Brief ophthalmic anesthesia (tonometry or short corneal/conjunctival procedures): 1 to 2 drops in the eye(s) prior to starting the procedure.
• Prolonged ophthalmic anesthesia (e.g., cataract extraction or other extended procedures): 1 to 2 drops in the affected eye(s) every 5 to 10 minutes for 3 to 5 doses.

For local dermal anesthesia, tetracaine is also available in a topical cream combined with lidocaine. It is applied to intact skin from 20 to 60 minutes in advance of superficial dermal procedures.

Adverse Effects

On a weight basis, it is recommended not to exceed 1.5 to 3 mg/kg of actual patient weight for dosing. The toxicity of the drug is affected by the site of administration. Tetracaine undergoes absorption (from fastest to slowest) in the following order: IV > intercostal > caudal > epidural > brachial plexus > subcutaneous. Absorption speed may be mitigated by avoiding areas with high vascular supply nearby and/or by adding local vasoconstrictors to the solution (epinephrine or phenylephrine).[5] As mentioned earlier, metabolism occurs via plasma cholinesterase primarily produced from the liver, so dosing should be done cautiously in patients with liver disease, neonates, and patients with atypical homozygous pseudocholinesterase deficiency.[6]

One of the primary concerns with tetracaine, as with other local anesthetics, is CNS toxicity. Toxicity may manifest initially as circumoral numbness, tinnitus, blurry vision, and dizziness. It may then present with hyperexcitability of the patient due to the blockade of CNS inhibitory pathways before progressing to depressive phenomena, seizures, and a comatose state before hemodynamic collapse. Tetracaine does exhibit vasodilatory properties when given in toxic doses and exerts dose-dependent decreases in cardiac contractility. In addition to this, it may increase the duration of PR and QRS intervals, progressing to sinus bradycardia then to asystole. Ventricular arrhythmia is a possibility but is more common with bupivacaine.[7]

Direct neural toxicity has been noted with chloroprocaine and lidocaine, although rare with tetracaine. These may manifest after neuraxial administration as cauda equina syndrome (lumbosacral radiculopathy, saddle anesthesia, loss of bowel/bladder tone). It may also manifest after a neuraxial technique as transient neurologic symptoms (painful lumbosacral radiculopathy lasting up to 10 days); this may be particularly more common in patients undergoing surgery in the lithotomy position are or will be non-ambulatory for prolonged periods, and those who are obese. Some degree of risk may be mitigated by using lower doses of local anesthetic for neuraxial technique and avoiding preservatives including sulfites and/or EDTA (which have been implicated for CES and TNS when used).[8]

Allergic reactions to tetracaine can occur. While allergy to local anesthetic is rare, it is more common with aminoesters than aminoamides. This reaction appears primarily to be due to para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). In addition to this, care is necessary to review the drug label for any addition of preservatives, especially methylparaben, which metabolizes to PABA.[9]

Contraindications

No absolute contraindications exist to the use of tetracaine, aside from prior evidence of severe allergic response. Relative contraindication to use is the previous administration of a local anesthetic. One should carefully note when a patient has received such medications as in cases of postoperative pain relief when local anesthetic infiltrate has been used concerning the duration of the effect of different agents. Since the advent of liposomal bupivacaine, which may exercise its effect for up to 72 hours, it bears mention that concurrently administered local anesthetics may combine to precipitate toxic symptoms.[10]

Monitoring

The American Society of Anesthesiology, in addition to international standard conventions,  recommends continuous ECG and pulse oximetry, blood pressure monitoring intermittently with concomitant inspection of respiratory rate, or ETCO2 during any regional or neuraxial anesthetic administration.[11]

Toxicity

The most feared complication of tetracaine toxicity is the progression to local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) syndrome marked by all previously mentioned features of CNS and cardiovascular toxicity. The provider administering the medication must exercise prompt recognition of the progression of this syndrome.

Care is necessary to quickly secure the patient’s airway and breathing and support hemodynamics. It is important to note that hypoxia, hypercarbia, and acidosis can worsen cardiac contractility, exacerbate arrhythmia, and lower the seizure threshold. Controlled ventilation can attenuate hypoxia and hypercarbia, mitigating such effects. Additionally, benzodiazepines may be prudent when administering high doses of tetracaine as they raise the seizure threshold and have the added benefit of anxiolysis during a nerve block or surgical procedure.

While there is no direct reversal agent or treatment for tetracaine toxicity, the recommendation is to begin lipid rescue therapy immediately. Intravascular administration of concentrated lipids theoretically acts as a sump to freely circulating local anesthetic allowing for rapid clearance of the drug from systemic circulation. 20% lipid emulsion should be immediately started at 1.5 mL/kg, followed by infusion at 0.25 mL/kg/min. The bolus dose may be repeated, and the infusion increased if the patient persists with hemodynamic compromise or arrhythmia.[12]

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

Tetracaine is rarely used today outside of topical applications for short ENT and ophthalmologic procedures. It has been studied on rat models and found to function via a dose-dependent inhibition of intracellular calcium release through ryanodine receptors. This pharmacology has not been studied in humans but may be of some interest as this mechanism is similar to that of dantrolene to treat malignant hyperthermia.[13]

For a successful outcome, the entire interprofessional healthcare team, including clinicians (MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs), specialists, nurses, and pharmacists, should work in a coordinated fashion to safely use tetracaine and monitor for side effects. This will result in more effective anesthesia and fewer adverse events with better patient outcomes. [Level 5]