Anesthesia & Clinical Research
Open Access

Abstract

Intravenous Lidocaine Survey: Clinical Practice Impact of Published Data

Carla Cavaleiro, Vitor Goncalves, Silvia Pinho, Joao Miguel Costa, Humberto Machado

Introduction: In the last decade several scientific publications have been published regarding intravenous Lidocaine and the potential benefits of its use in perioperative medicine. Lidocaine seems to have analgesic, anti-hyperalgic and anti-inflammatory features and it has shown benefits in reducing opioid requirements and surgical stress in laparoscopic abdominal surgeries. There appears to be no audits published on intravenous Lidocaine use on anesthetic daily practice. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of the published data on intravenous Lidocaine (IVL) benefits in perioperative medicine on our clinical practice.
Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in March 2017. A survey was performed from 10th to 20^th March 2017, directed to all practitioners in our institutional anaesthesiology department, to audit the use of IVL.
Results: A total of 82 (69.5%) complete questionnaires were retrieved. All the responders had already administrated IVL in the perioperative period. Most frequent reported motives for IVL administration included diminished pain of propofol administration, improved hemodynamic profile, reduced surgical stress and better analgesia. 40% of the anesthesiologists that answered the audit questionnaire used it during abdominal procedures. The majority (69%) reported to stop the IVL infusion at the end of the surgical procedure. No major negative consequences were attributed to IVL usage, nor did patients’ outcome have any drawbacks.
Conclusion: Our survey results reflected a clinical practice in line with the published literature. It seems that anesthesiologists are aware of IVL benefits and recognize them, and it is an area being currently explored. As an anaesthesia Department accredited by the European Society of Anaesthesiology (Hospital Visiting and Training Accreditation Programme-HVTAP) it is important to confirm that our practice is meeting the advances and recommendations reported on recent international literature.