Anesthesiology
-
Neurologic deficits after apparent intrathecal injection of 3% Nesacaine-CE intended for epidural administration created concern about the potential toxicity of chloroprocaine and the preservative sodium bisulfite. Although bisulfite-free formulations of chloroprocaine were subsequently introduced into clinical practice, the relative toxicities of this anesthetic and preservative were never clearly established. The current studies used a relevant functional and histologic model to investigate the intrathecal neurotoxicity of these two compounds. ⋯ Clinical deficits associated with unintentional intrathecal injection of chloroprocaine likely resulted from a direct effect of the anesthetic, not the preservative. The data also suggest that bisulfite can reduce neurotoxic damage induced by intrathecal local anesthetic.