title: An undocumented effect of lidocaine revealed by computerized electrocardiography.
abstract: The influence of an intravenous push of lidocaine 1 mg/kg followed by 2 mg/min infusion on total QRS amplitude and R-to-S duration in leads V2-V4 of the electrocardiogram was studied in 11 patients who were hospitalized in the coronary care unit. A computerized system sampled the amplitude and timing of peak R and S waves of 1100 QRS complexes of leads V2-V4, starting two minutes before the first push of lidocaine. Curves of amplitude and R-to-S duration versus time were obtained in all patients. QRS amplitude in V2 and V3 increased significantly in 10 of 11 patients (p < 0.005). The mean voltage increase for all patients was 0.1 +/- 0.07 millivolt. The authors also observed a mild prolongation of R-to-S duration (0.8 +/- 1.0 millisecond p < 0.02). This new finding, obtained by a simple computerized system, may possibly have potential future practical clinical application as a feedback parameter for closed-loop control systems for the administration of lidocaine.
authors.affiliation: Heart Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leor
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rabinowitz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hod
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaplinsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D008012:Lidocaine