British Journal of Anaesthesia, 1992, Vol. 69, No. 5 513-516
© 1992 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
case-report |
PLASMA LIGNOCAINE CONCENTRATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTRADURAL ANALGESIA IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT MULTIPLE ORGAN FAILURE
Clinic of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Innsbruck Austria
Clinic of Internal Medicine, University of Innsbruck Austria
*Address for correspondence: Klinik fur Anasthesie und Allgemeine Intensivmedizin, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.GHRISTIAN PUTENSEN M:D.
We have measured plasma concentrations of ligno-caine after thoracic extradural analgesia with continuous infusion of lignocaine in eight intensive care patients with chest wall trauma or after major upper abdominal surgery. Four patients developed multiple organ failure (MOF). Plasma concentrations of lignocaine in arterial blood were measured 4, 8, 24 and 48 h after a continuous infusion of lignocaine was commenced in the extradural space. Plasma concentrations of lignocaine were greater in all patients with MOF (range 2.75.1 ng ml1) than in patients without MOF (range 0.81.2 fig mh1). Because plasma concentrations in patients with MOF were within the low toxic range, extradural infusion of lignocaine should only be considered in intensive care patients without MOF or when plasma concentrations of lignocaine are monitored. (Br. J. Anaesth. 1992;69:513516)