A Nurse Is Assisting a Physician Who Is Preparing to Suture

Multiple Choice

A nurse is assisting a physician who is preparing to suture a superficial laceration on a patient's leg. The physician asks the nurse to draw up lidocaine with epinephrine. The nurse understands that epinephrine is used with the lidocaine to:

A) allow more systemic absorption to speed up metabolism of the lidocaine.
B) increase the rate of absorption of the lidocaine.
C) improve perfusion by increasing blood flow to the area.
D) prolong anesthetic effects and reduce the risk of systemic toxicity from lidocaine.