Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Oct 1987
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEffects of lidocaine infusion on the sympathetic response to abdominal surgery.
Activation of afferent nerves in the area of surgery is a cause for surgical pain and stress. Intravenous (IV) lidocaine has been shown to inhibit postoperative pain. In the present double-blind study, the effects of a continuous IV infusion of lidocaine (2 mg/min) on the sympathoadrenal stress response to surgery were evaluated in 38 patients scheduled for elective cholecystectomy who were randomly assigned to two groups. ⋯ Urinary catecholamine concentrations did not differ significantly in the two groups during the first postoperative day, but during the second postoperative day urinary output of epinephrine and norepinephrine were significantly less in the group of patients receiving lidocaine infusion. It was concluded that the IV infusion of lidocaine during and after major abdominal surgery suppresses extubation-induced hypertension and tachycardia but does not inhibit the general sympathetic response during the first postoperative day. However, lidocaine infusion reduces urinary output of catecholamines during the second postoperative day, suggesting a more rapid decline in the sympathoadrenal response postoperatively in the experimental group.