Use of lipid emulsions for treatment of local anesthetic toxicity: a case report.

Local anesthetic toxicity remains a clinical concern when performing regional anesthesia. Because signs and symptoms of toxicity may not appear for 20 to 30 minutes after administration of local anesthetic, vigilance is crucial. When signs and symptoms of local anesthetic toxicity appear, traditional standards mandate resuscitative measures, including maintenance of oxygenation, elimination of seizures, and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. However, intravenous administration of lipid emulsions may offer a viable adjunctive treatment of local anesthetic toxicity. The number of case reports demonstrating successful use of lipid emulsions is growing. Continued research remains pivotal to improve understanding of the theory of lipid emulsion pharmacology and application to clinical practice.