Hypertonic NaCl antagonizes cardiac arrhythmia induced by bupivacaine

We studied the effects of pretreatment with hypertonic solutions on the conduction disturbances and cardiac arrhythmias caused by iv injection of bupivacaine in anesthetized mongrel dogs. Bupivacaine was injected in doses of 3 ms/Kg and 6.5 mg/Kg. The hypertonic solutions used were 7.5% NaCl, 5.4% LiCi, 50% Glucose (5 ml/Kg and 20% mannitol (10 ml/Kg). Bupivacaine induced severe conduction disturbances, as reflected by significant increases in QRS complex duration, HV interval and IV interval, and severe hypertension. The arrhythmias observed wereÑ sinus node dysfunction, nonustained ventricular tachycardia, sustained ventriculara tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. These effects were dose dependent, and were more evident with the higher dose of bupivacine. Among all the hypertonic sulutions tested, only 7.5% NaCl effectivelly protected against conduction disturbances and cardiac arrhythmias. These findings suggest an important role for socium overload in these situations and provide a potentially harmless tool for the treatment of anesthetic accidents with bupivacaine during regionalo anesthesia

Hypertonic saline reverses bupivacaine-induced depression of rabbit Purkinje fiber depolarization Vmax

The present study describes the effect of a hypertonic increase in sodium chloride concentration on electrophysiological parameters. Membrane depolarization was recorded from rabbit Purkinje fibers superfused with warm, aerated Tyrode solution. An amount of 5% NaCl above that in normal Tyrode solution (HyNaCl, 344 mOsm) was added to the bathing medium for 30 min, significantly increasing the maximal rate of depolarization (Vmax + 15% vs - 7% for control), with minor effects on other parameters. When bupivacaine was superfused over the preparation for 30 min either in normal Tyrode or in HyNaCl, Vmax was significantly deveased (33% and 15%, respectively). HyNaCl protected the cardiac tissues from the depressive effect of 05micron/ml bupivacaine. We suggest that the infusion of hypertonic saline in intact animals may prove effective in preventing or reversing the cardiodepressant effect of bupivacaine