Early intralipid therapy may have prevented bupivacaine-associated cardiac arrest.
OBJECTIVE
Local anesthetic-induced cardiotoxicity remains a complication of regional anesthesia, with the potential to result in cardiac arrest refractory to resuscitation. Successful resuscitation using Intralipid (Baxter Pharmaceuticals by Fresenius Kabi, Uppsala, Sweden), has been reported in 2 patients with bupivacaine-induced cardiac arrest.


METHODS
We report another case for which Intralipid was used as part of a successful resuscitation in a patient with local anesthetic-induced cardiotoxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Early treatment with Intralipid may help prevent cardiac arrest and speed successful resuscitation efforts.
McCutchen
Thomas
T
Department of Anesthesiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. mccutcq@netscape.net
Gerancher
J C
JC
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D002045:Bupivacaine