This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Burches, B. R. Articles by Warner, D. O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Burches, B. R., Jr Articles by Warner, D. O. Related Collections Complications Patient Safety Pharmacology

---

PATIENT SAFETY

Bronchospasm After Intravenous Lidocaine

From the Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.

Address correspondence to David O. Warner, MD, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905. Address e-mail to warner.david{at}mayo.edu.

Abstract

IV lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg) administered to facilitate endotracheal intubation was associated with transient bronchospasm in a 17-month-old-female with mild intermittent asthma. Immediately after lidocaine administration, the patient developed diffuse bilateral expiratory wheezes and dramatic increases in peak inspiratory pressure. Over approximately 5 min the episode resolved and an uneventful anesthetic course followed. This is consistent with recent clinical studies suggesting that IV lidocaine may cause airway narrowing in asthmatics. Practitioners should be aware of this potential complication.