Perioperative Intravenous Lidocaine Infusion Adverse Reaction: A Case Report

A A Pract. 2019 Aug 1;13(3):96-98. doi: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000001002.

Abstract

Intravenous lidocaine is increasingly being utilized as an opioid-sparing analgesic. A 55-year-old man with well-controlled human immunodeficiency virus on highly active antiretroviral therapy was prescribed a lidocaine infusion at 1 mg/kg/h for postoperative pain. On postoperative day 2, the patient experienced 4 unresponsive episodes with tachycardia, hypertension, and oxygen desaturation. Serum lidocaine level was available 2 days later (high 6.3 µg/mL, therapeutic range 2.5-3.5 µg/mL). There is significant pharmacokinetic interaction between lidocaine and this patient's human immunodeficiency virus medications. This case highlights the need for a readily accessible list of medications that caution against lidocaine. We propose in-house serum lidocaine levels to monitor patients at an increased risk for toxicity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anesthetics / adverse effects*
  • Anesthetics / blood
  • Anesthetics / pharmacokinetics
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Lidocaine / adverse effects*
  • Lidocaine / blood
  • Lidocaine / pharmacokinetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain, Postoperative / drug therapy*
  • Perioperative Period

Substances

  • Anesthetics
  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Lidocaine