LIDOCAINE

Course overview

LIDOCAINE IS A LOCAL ANESTHETIC AGENT THAT IS COMMONLY USED FOR LOCAL AND TOPIC ANESTHESIA, BUT WHICH ALSO HAS ANTIARRHYTHMIC AND ANALGESIC USES AND CAN BE USED AS AN ADJUNCT TO TRACHEAL INTUBATION. IT IS A TERTIARY AMINE, AND IS A CLASS IB ANTIARRHYTHMIC AGENT ON THE VAUGHAN-WILLIAMS CLASSIFICATION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE INDICATIONS, ACTIONS, AND CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR LIDOCAINE AS A VALUABLE AGENT IN ANESTHESIOLOGY, CARDIOLOGY, AND PAIN MANAGEMENT. THIS ACTIVITY WILL HIGHLIGHT THE MECHANISM OF ACTION, ADVERSE EFFECT PROFILE, DOSING, PHARMACOKINETICS, PHARMACODYNAMICS AND RELEVANT INTERACTIONS THAT ARE PERTINENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAMS IN THESE SPECIALTIES, AS WELL AS ALL USERS OF LOCAL ANESTHESIA.