ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a low-dose constant rate infusion (LCRI; 50 microg kg(-1) minute(-1)) and high-dose CRI (HCRI; 200 microg kg(-1) minute(-1)) lidocaine on arterial blood pressure and on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane (Sevo), in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized experimental design. ANIMALS: Eight healthy adult spayed female dogs, weighing 16.0 +/- 2.1 kg. METHODS: Each dog was anesthetized with sevoflurane in oxygen and mechanically ventilated, on three separate occasions 7 days apart. Following a 40-minute equilibration period, a 0.1-mL kg(-1) saline loading dose or lidocaine (2 mg kg(-1) intravenously) was administered over 3 minutes, followed by saline CRI or lidocaine LCRI or HCRI. The sevoflurane MAC was determined using a tail clamp. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure and plasma concentration of lidocaine were measured. All values are expressed as mean +/- SD. RESULTS: The MAC of Sevo was 2.30 +/- 0.19%. The LCRI reduced MAC by 15% to 1.95 +/- 0.23% and HCRI by 37% to 1.45 +/- 0.21%. Diastolic and mean pressure increased with HCRI. Lidocaine plasma concentration was 0.84 +/- 0.18 for LCRI and 1.89 +/- 0.37 microg mL(-1) for HCRI. Seventy-five percent of HCRI dogs vomited during recovery. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Lidocaine infusions dose dependently decreased the MAC of Sevo, did not induce clinically significant changes in HR or arterial blood pressure, but vomiting was common during recovery in HCRI.
