Which local anesthetic has the shortest duration of action?

Procaine is recognized for having the shortest duration of action among local anesthetics. Its onset of action is relatively fast, but it tends to wear off more quickly compared to other local anesthetics. This is primarily due to its chemical structure, which results in faster metabolism by plasma esterases, allowing it to be cleared from the body more rapidly.

In contrast, other local anesthetics such as lidocaine, tetracaine, and bupivacaine possess longer durations of action due to their chemical characteristics and metabolic pathways. Lidocaine, for instance, has a moderate duration and is widely used for its effective analgesic properties. Tetracaine is long-lasting, and bupivacaine, known for its use in procedures requiring extended analgesia, has a much longer duration of action than procaine.

Understanding the pharmacokinetics of each agent is crucial in choosing the appropriate local anesthetic for specific clinical scenarios, particularly when the duration of action is a deciding factor.