Plasma Concentrations of Lidocaine (Lignocaine) After Cranial Subcutaneous Injection During Neurosurgical Operations

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Abstract
After cranial s.c. injection of lidocaine 0.8-3.7 mg/kg + adrenaline (epinephrine) 1:200,000 in neurosurgical patients, fast drug absorption was found with peak plasma concentrations of 0.6-1 .mu.g/ml in 5-10 min. The concentration remained above the lowest effective antiarrhythmic level of 0.6 .mu.g/ml for only .apprx. 10 min. In 1 patient, simultaneously administered i.v. lidocaine had an additive effect on those levels. Induced hypotension (sodium nitroprusside) during aneurysm operations decreased the arterial plasma level of lidocaine and was followed by a new peak after discontinuation. The absorption of a drug during induced hypotension from s.c. tissue is erratic.