Which of the following indicates a successful local anesthetic nerve block?

A successful local anesthetic nerve block is indicated by the loss of sensation in the target area. This outcome means that the nerve inhibitions are correctly applied, leading to the desired effect of anesthesia, where the patient experiences a lack of sensation in the area that was targeted for treatment. This is the primary goal of a local anesthetic procedure, allowing for pain-free surgical or dental interventions.

In addition, while complete motor function in the area may be desired in some specific cases, it is not the indicator of successful anesthesia. For instance, in dental procedures, it is often acceptable that there may be some disruption to motor function, especially if the patient needs to remain still during treatment to avoid injury.

A palpable pulse in the nearby vessels does not correlate with the success of the anesthetic block. The presence of a pulse indicates perfusion rather than sensory or motor blockage.

Visual confirmation of anesthesia, while possibly useful to some extent, is subjective and can vary based on the observer's interpretation. The loss of sensation provides a more definitive and objective measure of the effectiveness of the local anesthetic nerve block.