Lidocaine in Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

To the Editor.— In the treatment of acute and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, it has been my experience that another medication may be added to the treatment armamentarium. By adding lidocaine hydrochloride (intravenous form) to the medications which are available at the present time in the treatment of obstructive pulmonary disease, the results obtained greatly outweigh complications which may arise from withholding it. Of course, all cases should be highly individualized. If the conventional methods do not produce a satisfactory result, I feel that lidocaine hydrochloride is the less toxic of any agent that we have which may be utilized in the treatment of chronic lung disorders. Initially, a bolus is given intravenously, followed by a lidocaine drip over the next 12 to 24 hours, depending upon the clinical course. In our experience, we have found that by doing this, most patients who have become fixed to bronchodilator therapy can