Bronchospasm After Intravenous Lidocaine

In Brief IV lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg) administered to facilitate endotracheal intubation was associated with transient bronchospasm in a 17-month-old-female with mild intermittent asthma. Immediately after lidocaine administration, the patient developed diffuse bilateral expiratory wheezes and dramatic increases in peak inspiratory pressure. Over approximately 5 min the episode resolved and an uneventful anesthetic course followed. This is consistent with recent clinical studies suggesting that IV lidocaine may cause airway narrowing in asthmatics. Practitioners should be aware of this potential complication. IMPLICATIONS: We describe a case of bronchospasm after the administration of IV lidocaine as an adjunct to endotracheal intubation in a child with mild intermittent asthma. Practitioners should be aware of this potential complication.