Conclusion
These results reveal that LE has a protective effect against bupivacaine cardiotoxicity. In clinical application, the simultaneous application of LE and bupivacaine may reduce the risk of cardiotoxicity due to bupivacaine.
Methods
In our study, 24 Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: I) Control; II) LE, 1 mg kg-1; III) LE, 3 mg kg-1 and IV) LE, 6 mg kg-1. Intravenous bupivacaine was administered at a dose of 3 mg kg-1 min-1 to the anaesthetized rats in all groups until cardiac asystole was achieved. LE was administered at the doses of 1, 3 and 6 mg kg-1 min-1 using infusion, simultaneously with bupivacaine. The asystole time and 75% decrement time in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) were determined. P-Q, Q-T and QRS intervals were measured using electrocardiography (ECG) recordings.
Objective
Bupivacaine, a local anaesthetic substance, is used as a regional-anaesthesia agent. Lidocaine, a sodium channel blocker, is used in combination with epinephrine for regional anaesthesia. We aimed to evaluate the effects of lidocaine with epinephrine (LE) at different doses on bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity in rats.
Results
LE significantly increased the asystole time and 75% decrement time in MABP at the doses of 3 and 6 mg kg-1 compared to the control group (p<0.05) and significantly increased these values at the dose of 1 mg kg-1 compared to the control and other treatment groups (p<0.05). LE abolished the prolongation of P-Q, Q-T and QRS intervals in ECG recordings at the dose of 1 mg kg-1 (p<0.05).