title: Subcutaneous lidocaine for treatment of neuropathic cancer pain.
abstract: Three patients with terminal malignancy reporting ineffective analgesia using systemic and subsequently spinal opiates were treated with subcutaneous infusion of 10% lidocaine hydrochloride. During the infusion, reasonably stable blood concentrations were achieved and maintained using a subcutaneous infusion at varying dose rates over days to months with improvement of the pain complaints which continued to be refractory to conventional analgesics. Blood lidocaine levels obtained at regular intervals revealed effective concentrations between 2 and 5 micrograms/ml for each patient.
authors.affiliation: Pain Management Service, Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CAU.S.A. Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSWAustralia.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Brose
authors.forename: Micheal J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cousins
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D008012:Lidocaine