A case of epileptic seizure due to lidocaine local anesthesia

Abstract

Lidocaine is an amide-structured local anesthetic commonly used in practice in anesthesiology. Because of its rapid onset, it is frequently used in topical and infiltration anesthesia, regional blocks, regional intravenous anesthesia (RIVA) and general anesthesia to suppress hemodynamic responses to intubation, as well as some cardiac arrhythmias and epileptic seizures. Here, we present a case with seizures and impaired consciousness following iv lidocaine treatment during sedoanalgesia without a history of epilepsy. A thirty-seven-year-old female patient, who was scheduled for a cervical biopsy operation in the Gynecology and Obstetrics clinic, developed a loss of consciousness due to lidocaine with tonic-clonic epileptic seizures during treatment with sedoanalgesia. The patient was intubated with 2 mg midazolam, 200 mg propofol and 50 mg rocuronium intravenously, while oxygen was provided by mask at 6 liters / min. Anesthesia was maintained with 4 lt / min 50% oxygen and 50% air mixture and 2% sevoflurane. There were signs of respiratory acidosis in the blood gas analysis. She was intubated for half an hour by a mechanical ventilator. The operation was canceled. In blood gas monitoring the values were within normal limits. Sugammadex was applied by the gynecology and obstetrics department. In all cases where local anesthetic is planned, necessary precautions should be taken to cope with rare complications.