Plasma lignocaine concentrations following topical laryngeal application

Abstract

Lignocaine 4%, 4 mg/kg, was sprayed onto the larynx and subglottic area of 96 children aged from 2 weeks to 12 years and plasma lignocaine concentrations were measured. While the majority were well within the accepted safe range (4-5 μg/ml) occasional concentrations over 8 μg/ml appeared in all groups. Simultaneous arterial and venous sampling showed a small but significant difference in the first 10 minutes.