Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity rare in children but may prove fatal
New research revealed that local anesthetic (LA) systemic toxicity (LAST) is rare but may frequently exhibit neurological and cardiac signs in children. The study was published in the journal BMC Pediatrics.
Local anesthetics in the pediatric population can produce severe systemic toxicity after intravenous absorption from the injection site (topical, or subcutaneous). These can occur within an hour or sometimes many hours later and can be fatal. Despite the dosages, children should be monitored for an hour after LA administration. As the factors associated with systemic reactions are poorly understood, researchers conducted a study to characterize the clinical profile of pediatric local anesthetic (LA) systemic toxicity (LAST) and to identify determinants of life-threatening outcomes.
The French Pharmacovigilance Network received spontaneous reports, which were then retrieved and reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the following standards:
LA as a suspected drug, |
age < 18 years, |
adverse drug reactions related to the nervous system, cardiac, respiratory, psychiatric, or general disorders. |
The elements that can result in a life-threatening reaction like persistent seizures or cardiorespiratory arrest, were determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis.
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