Intravenous Lipids: Antidotal Therapy for Drug Overdose and Toxic Effects of Local Anesthetics

Abstract

Intravenous lipid emulsion is an accepted therapy for the treatment of severe cardiac toxic effects caused by local anesthetics. Lipid emulsion therapy has also been used successfully to treat cardiac arrest and intractable arrhythmias caused by overdoses of antiepileptic drugs, cardiovascular drugs, and psychotropic medications, but experience with intravenous lipids as antidotal therapy in these clinical situations is limited. However, intravenous lipids are relatively safe, widely available, and easy to administer, and many published case reports document their dramatic effectiveness. Patients who have not responded to standard therapies have been quickly revived by administration of intravenous lipids. Use of lipids most likely will increase, and critical care nurses should be familiar with lipid therapy.

Managerial Decision-making for Daily Case Allocation Scheduling and the Impact on Perioperative Quality Assurance

“…Finally, the surgical procedures themselves are physiologic stressors, even with anesthesia. (3)(4)(5) These complicating conditions always challenge the anesthesia providers in terms of maintaining risk-reduction strategies, comprehensive analysis abilities, and performing emergency procedures. In part, anesthesia-related mortality is declining due to advances in monitoring technology, establishment and application of anesthesia regulations, and implementation of systematic measures to reduce human error.…”