Recurrence of Cardiotoxicity After Lipid Rescue from Bupivacaine-Induced Cardiac Arrest

In Brief Accidental intravascular administration of bupivacaine during performance of a brachial block precipitated convulsions followed by asystole. The patient was rapidly resuscitated using cardiopulmonary resuscitation, supplemented by 150 mL of 20% lipid emulsion. Nonetheless, cardiac toxicity reappeared 40 min after completion of the lipid emulsion. In the absence of further lipid emulsion, amiodarone and inotropic support were used to treat cardiotoxicity. This case suggests that local anesthetic systemic toxicity may recur after initial lipid rescue. Since recurrence of toxicity may necessitate administration of additional doses of lipid emulsion, a sufficient quantity of lipid emulsion should be available when regional anesthesia is performed. IMPLICATIONS: Systemic local anesthetic toxicity may recur after initial lipid rescue, necessitating administration of additional doses of IV lipid emulsion. This further underscores the importance of the availability of a sufficient quantity of lipid emulsion when regional anesthesia is performed.