Lidocaine Versus Fentanyl for Hemodynamic Stability

Overview

Hypertension is an important health challenge that affects millions of people across the world today and is a major risk factor for multiple system comorbidities. Intraoperative hypotension may lead to negative outcomes. 'Post-induction hypotension' (PIH; i.e. arterial hypotension defined as hypotension during the first 20 min after anesthesia induction, or from anesthesia induction until the beginning of surgery) and 'early intraoperative hypotension' (eIOH; i.e. arterial hypotension occurring during the first 30 min of surgery). Lidocaine is a local anesthetic drug with multiple systemic uses. Systemic lidocaine used as at the perioperative period has analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties which make it capable of reducing intra- and postoperative drug consumptions and patients' hospital stay. Therefore, we hypothesize that the use of lidocaine as an adjuvant to propofol might reduce the risk of post induction hypotension and hence having more stable hemodynamic profile during induction of anesthesia.

Since post induction hypotension is mainly caused by anesthetic drugs, developing a technique for the induction of anesthesia that provides adequate hypnosis with stable hemodynamics during surgery is critical, especially for hypertensive patients. (4) Propofol is the most commonly used drug for anesthesia induction; however, its use is usually associated with hypotension through vasodilation and direct myocardial depression. (5) Opioid drugs are usually added to propofol to potentiate its hypnotic effect; however, they also potentiate propofol's negative hemodynamic effect at the same degree, even with low doses of propofol (5). Lidocaine is a local anesthetic drug with multiple systemic uses. Systemic lidocaine used as at the perioperative period has analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties which make it capable of reducing intra- and postoperative drug consumptions and patients' hospital stay. (6) Lidocaine/ketamine combination showed a favorable hemodynamic profile following rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia in septic shock patients \[14\]. Therefore, we hypothesize that the use of lidocaine as an adjuvant to propofol might reduce the risk of post induction hypotension and hence having more stable hemodynamic profile during induction of anesthesia.