Transitory ataxia related to topically administered lidocaine.
OBJECTIVE
To report 2 cases of transitory cerebellar ataxia related to lidocaine administered topically for endoscopy. case summaries: Two patients developed transitory cerebellar ataxia a few minutes after local anesthesia using lidocaine 10% spray and lidocaine 2% orally for a bronchoscopy and transesophageal echocardiography. This effect completely disappeared in 3-5 hours. In neither case was an alternate etiology of cerebellar ataxia identified. The second patient had previously experienced a similar reaction to lidocaine.


CONCLUSIONS
Several central neurologic effects of lidocaine have been reported, but until now, only few cases of cerebellar ataxia. In these 2 cases, the Naranjo probability scale indicated that a probable and a highly probable relationship existed between lidocaine administration and the transitory cerebellar ataxia.


CONCLUSIONS
Cerebellar ataxia may occur after local anesthesia with lidocaine; therefore, care must be taken to avoid overdose, even when administered topically.
Perney
Pascal
P
Service de Médecine Interne E, Hôpital Saint Eloi, Faculté de Médecine de Montpellier, Montpellier, France. p-perney@chu-montpellier.fr
Blanc
François
F
Mourad
Georges
G
Blayac
Jean-Pierre
JP
Hillaire-Buys
Dominique
D
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine