Abstract

BERRIO VALENCIA, Marta Inés  and  VARGAS SILVA, Juan Felipe. Protocol and importance of using the kit for local anesthetic systemic toxicity. Rev. colomb. anestesiol. [online]. 2013, vol.41, n.4, pp.274-279. ISSN 0120-3347.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rca.2013.09.003.

Systemic toxicity due to local anesthetics is one of the most feared complications in regional anesthesia due to the risk for the heart, the central nervous system and, in particular, the risk of triggering cardiorespiratory arrest, which is difficult to manage, even in healthy patients. Prevention as the main goal, together with prompt recognition and early treatment using several general measures followed by specific treatment with 20% lipid emulsions, improve prognosis dramatically for thesepatients. Theirimmediate availability in the operatingthea-ter or in areas where regional anesthesia is provided such as the emergency services and rooms where blocks are performed, may make the difference between a favorable or adverse prognosis in situations of severe systemic toxicity from local anesthetics. The objective of this article is to create awareness on the prevention of toxicity events due to local anesthetics and provide knowledge about the management protocols in case such events should happen, recognizing the importance of having a toxicity kit available during daily practice and of following basic management guidelines adapted to the needs of each institution because, although this is a rare occurrence, it may be devastating.

Keywords : Anesthetics, Local; Toxicity; Lipids; Anesthesia, Conduction; Operating Rooms.

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