Essay Local Anaesthetic Toxicity – Medical Science Assignment Help

Assignment Task

Local Anaesthetic Toxicity

Increase of systemic blood levels of local anaesthesia (LA) will cause it to travel primarily to the central nervous system and this will result in  cardiovascular toxicity.
 
This can happen with a dose of LA which is too high, as well as with a dose which is too low or even with the correct dose of LA which is delivered to the wrong routes – such as via blood vessels.  

This is one reason for repeated aspiration during LA blocks – ensuring no blood in the syringe, which would indicate placement in a blood vessel where LA would travel direct to the heart.

Some LA drugs such as Lidocaine, are used to treat cardiac arrhythmia since they block the  conduction of cardiac sodium channels.

Sites that have the highest risk of local anaesthetic toxicity

Subcutaneous injection 
Sciatic and femoral block
Brachial plexus block 
Epidural  
Caudal 
Intercostal block  
Inadvertent intravenous injection