[Plasma concentrations of lidocaine and prilocaine following infiltration anesthesia in otorhinolaryngologic surgery].

UNLABELLED

Infiltration anaesthesia is still relevant for the surgical treatment of patients in otorhinolaryngology. The injection of local anaesthetics in well vascularised areas constantly causes the danger of high plasma concentrations of local anaesthetics combined with undesirable side effects. In our study we tried to determine the development of plasma concentrations of local anaesthetics in patients scheduled for routine tonsillectomies and tympanoplasty.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In 45 patients the development of plasma concentrations was measured immediately after the injection at short intervals; the samples were obtained between 1 minute and 60 minutes after the first injection. Group 1: Lidocaine 0.5% with epinephrine (1:200,000) 15-20 ml for tonsillectomy (n = 18). Group 2: Lidocaine 0.5% with epinephrine (1:200,000) 8-15 ml for tympanoplasty (n = 15). Group 3: Prilocaine 1% with epinephrine (1:200,000) 8-15 ml for tympanoplasty (n = 15). For tactical reasons infiltration anaesthesia for the patients of group 2 was - in addition to general anaesthesia - applied by the otorhinolaryngologist, whereas the patients of groups 1 and 3 were operated exclusively under local anaesthesia.

RESULTS

Within the first minute after the initial injection plasma concentrations of the local anesthetic increased close to toxic threshold levels that are associated with undesirable systemic side effects. In the patients of group 1, who underwent tonsillectomy, plasma concentrations of 4-7 micrograms/ml were found during the first minute. The highest average values always appeared within the first five minutes: group 1 2.07 micrograms/ml, group 2: 0.45 micrograms/ml, and group 3: 1.15 micrograms/ml.

DISCUSSION

With infiltration anaesthesia in well vascularised areas it may happen that there are--mainly in the early stage--high plasma concentrations of the applied substances, although the total dose was below the known maximum. Despite careful technique (repeated aspiration test in two levels) at least partial intravascular injections are apparently not always avoidable according to the pharmacokinetic data. Our results demonstrate that in addition to a safe peripheral venous line and prophylactic oxygen therapy, intraoperative monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram and verbal patient monitoring is of advantage in this group of patients. In our opinion the "standby function" of an anaesthesiologist can avoid severe complications.