Ventricular tachycardia in a neonate with mepivacaine toxicity.

An unusual case of mepivacaine toxicity with ventricular tachycardia in a newborn infant is presented. The mepivacaine probably reached the infant by direct injection into the scalp. Effective removal of the drug by gastric lavage was demonstrated. Exchange transfusion may also have been instrumental in the infant's survival by reducing the high blood concentration of mepivacaine.