Continuous Intravenous Lidocaine Infusion: Effective Analgesic Choice in a Complex Critically Ill Patient

Abstract

The need to manage acute pain in older patients is becoming increasingly frequent in postoperative intensive care units. Older population is extremely sensitive to opioid adverse effects. Therefore, intravenous infusion of lidocaine might be a useful tool in this scenario. We present the case of an ICU older patient after urgent abdominal surgery. Pain management with opioid therapy was extremely complex with serious adverse effects. Intravenous lidocaine infusion not only proved to be effective but also allowed an enhanced postoperative recovery.