A 43-year-old male presented to the emergency department (ED) for evaluation of acute respiratory arrest. Prior to arrival, the patient was at an outpatient surgical center being prepared for a right shoulder arthroscopic surgery under regional anesthesia. The anesthesiologist injected 10 mL of bupivacaine and 30 mL of ropivacaine, of unknown concentrations, while attempting to perform an interscalene block. Soon thereafter, the patient complained of difficulty breathing and subsequently developed complete paralysis and respiratory arrest requiring emergent endotracheal intubation prior to hospital arrival. No additional medications were administered at the time of intubation.\nPhysical exam revealed dilated pupils nonreactive to light, complete flaccid paralysis and inability to withdraw from noxious stimuli. The patient immediately received two liters of 0.9% normal saline and a dopamine infusion, initiated at 5 mcg/kg/min, due to persistent bradycardia (heart rate of 44 bpm) and hypotension. The local poison control center was contacted for recommendations on potential LAT. The decision was made to administer 20% ILE, with a bolus of 125 mL (1.5 mL/kg) over one minute, about 90 minutes after presentation. Shortly after, propofol was initiated for post-intubation sedation at 10 mcg/kg/min. The remaining volume of ILE (125 mL) was then immediately infused over two hours at a rate of 0.013 mL/kg/min.\nApproximately 30 minutes after the initiation of ILE, the patient began to regain brainstem reflexes and eye movement, which progressed to head nods, then movement of his upper extremities. In addition, during that time period, his blood pressure and heart rate improved to within normal parameters. Sixty minutes later, the patient was able to communicate by writing down responses to questions. One hour after that, he had full recovery and was extubated. The patient recovered completely without any evidence of neurological sequelae and was discharged 30 hours after presentation.
A 4-year-old boy with 25 kg weight presented to the Emergency Department of Imam Hospital of Sari in December 2013 due to tonic-clonic generalized seizures approximately 30 min ago. 3 h before seizure, his mother mistakenly gave him 2 spoons (amount 20–25 cc) lidocaine hydrochloride 2% solution instead of pediatric gripe. Seizure with generalized tonic-clonic occurred 3 times in home. On arrival at our Emergency Department, she was agitated and had confused speech with Glasgow coma scale score of 14/15. His initial blood pressure was 90/55 mmHg with a pulse rate of 130 beats/min.\nHis temperature was 36.9°C axial. Respiratory rate was 20 per min with a SpO2 of 96% on 2 L of nasal oxygen. Twitching movement with muscle spasm was noticed in the limbs. The pupils were 4 mm in diameter, equal and reactive, and no focal neurological deficit was found. His skin was normal. Bowel sound was normal, and the bladder was not palpable. An electrocardiogram (ECG) showed sinus tachycardia with a heart rate of 139 beats/min, and QT interval was 0.89 s. Neurologic examination was essentially unremarkable except for the depressed level of consciousness. The personal and medical history was unremarkable; including the absence of birthing trauma or febrile seizures. He had no history of use of other drugs.\nLaboratory studies while the patient received supplemental oxygen included an arterial blood gas with pH 7.30; pO2104 mm Hg; pCO239 mmHg; and HCO321. A complete blood count revealed white blood cells 10,400/mm3(31% polymorphonuclear leukocytes, 64% lymphocytes, 5% monocytes); hemoglobin 12 g; and hematocrit 35%. Blood chemistry studies were unremarkable except for an elevated glucose (219 mg %) obtained while the patient was receiving an IV line with 5% glucose. One day after admission; a repeat glucose level was 89 mg%.\nShortly after arrival at the Emergency Department, he developed one episode of brief generalized convulsion with upward gaze and episode lasting for around 30 s, 5 mg of IV diazepam was administered and a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain was promptly performed. The latter showed no evidence of intracranial ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions. Serum lidocaine concentration 30 min after the onset of seizures was 5.1 μg/ml. There were no further seizures; the patient remained stable and was discharged 2 days after admission.