POTENTIATION OF NERVE BLOCK IN VIVO BY PHYSIOLOGICAL ADJUVANTS IN THE SOLUTION

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Abstract
One hundred and seventy-four rats received a standardized 0.4-ml injection into the left infraorbital nerve and all solutions contained lignocaine 0.25 gdl−1. In groups 1–4, the solutions were isoosmotic and contained, besides sodium chloride, potassium chloride 0 or 4 mmol litre−1 and glucose 0 or 20 mmol litre−1 (0 or 360 gdl−1). For groups 5–8, the solutions were hypoosmotic, containing sodium chloride to 0.6 of normal tonicity, but were otherwise identical to solutions 1–4. Presence and duration of sensory block were determined from the reflex sublingual electromyographic response to periodic homolateral and contralateral electrical stimulation of the upper lip. In groups 1–4, the presence of potassium chloride 4 mmol litre−1 approximately doubled the duration of blockade (P < 0.001). Groups 5–8 showed that hypoosmolarity also doubled the duration of block (P < 0.001), but hypoosmolarity and potassium chloride did not have additive effects. It is concluded that addition of potassium- chloride 4 mmol litre−1 to isotonic solutions of lignocaine is likely to enhance their clinical effectiveness.

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