title: Lidocaine blood levels following aerosolization and intravenous administration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether, following aerosolization of lidocaine for topical airway anesthesia, intravenous (IV) lidocaine produces toxic lidocaine blood concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-affiliated hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty healthy patients scheduled for outpatient surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients received in a randomized, double-blind manner aerosolized lidocaine or placebo followed 10 minutes later by IV lidocaine or placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After completion of lidocaine or placebo aerosolization and 2 minutes following IV administration of either lidocaine or the placebo, venous blood samples were obtained. Lidocaine concentration was measured using a homogenous enzyme assay. The group receiving both aerosolized and IV placebo and the group receiving aerosolized lidocaine and an IV placebo had undetectable (less than 0.05 micrograms/ml) serum lidocaine levels. The groups that received either an aerosolized placebo or aerosolized lidocaine and IV lidocaine had similar serum lidocaine concentrations [3.34 +/- 0.46 vs. 3.24 +/- 0.55 micrograms/ml (mean +/- SEM); p greater than 0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IV lidocaine can be safely administered following aerosolization of lidocaine in spontaneously breathing patients without producing toxic blood lidocaine concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Humana Hospital-Michael Reese, Chicago, IL 60616.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Baughman
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Laurito
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Polek
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D001980:Bronchi; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D010919:Placebos; D014132:Trachea
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D010919:Placebos; D008012:Lidocaine