This Article 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 PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by de Jong, R. H. Articles by Bonin, J. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by de Jong, R. H. Articles by Bonin, J. D.

Deaths from Local Anesthetic-Induced Convulsions in Mice

Rudolph H. de Jong, MD^*, and John D. Bonin, MA

*Richard Saltonstall Professor for Research in Anesthesia, Anesthesia Research Laboratories, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02111 Research Assistant, Anesthesia Research Laboratories, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02111

Abstract

Median convulsant (CD₅₀) and median lethal (LD₅₀) doses of three representative local anesthetics were determined in adult mice to evaluate the threat to life of local anesthetic-induced convulsions. The CD₅₀ and LD₅₀, respectively, were 57.7 and 58.7 mg/kg for bupivacaine, 111.0 and 133.1 mg/kg for lidocaine, and 243.4 and 266.5 mg/kg for chloroprocaine. When given intraperitoneally, bupivacaine thus was only about twice as toxic as lidocaine and four times as toxic as chloroprocaine. Convulsions always preceded death, except after precipitous cardiopulmonary arrest from extreme doses. A CD₅₀ dose of local anesthetic (causing convulsions in 50% of mice) was fatal in 90% of bupivacaine-induced seizures, in 57% of the chloroprocaine group, and in 6% of the lidocaine group. The narrow gap between convulsant and lethal doses of local anesthetics indicates that untreated convulsions present much more of a threat to life than heretofore appreciated.

Key Words: ANESTHETICS, Local: lidocaine • ANESTHETICS, Local: bupivacaine • ANESTHETICS, Local: chloroprocaine; • TOXICITY: local anesthetic.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Groban, D. D. Deal, J. C. Vernon, R. L. James, and J. Butterworth Ventricular Arrhythmias With or Without Programmed Electrical Stimulation After Incremental Overdosage with Lidocaine, Bupivacaine, Levobupivacaine, and Ropivacaine Anesth. Analg., October 1, 2000; 91(5): 1103 - 1111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]