Lidocaine-induced anaphylactic shock – A case report

Abstract

IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions (HRs) to local anaesthetics are extremely uncommon. One of the most widely used local anaesthetics for minor dental and other surgical procedures is lidocaine. The incidence of anaphylactic reaction by Inj. Lidocaine among global population is <1%. The first anaphylactic reaction reported in 1902. A 69-year-old female patient shifted to community hospital emergency department. She presented with complaints of vertigo, anxiety, tachypnoea, hypoxia, and sudden onset of breathlessness. History revealed on administration of Inj. Lidocaine a local anaesthesia to her before knee surgery developed above-mentioned symptoms after 15 minutes. After receiving her from OT patient vitals observed as pulse rate-97bpm, GRBS-140mg/dl, blood pressure-170/70mmHg, spo95% with 0. On emergency basis treated her with anti-histamines (Inj. Chlorpheniramine), steroids (Inj. Hydrocortisone-400mg, Inj.solumedrol-1gm), oxygen support of 7 to 8 lit/min, after 4 days she recovered completely and discharged. We used a scale (Naranjo scale) to evaluate the severity of the adverse drug reaction as per scale, score was five that indicates probability of happening adverse reaction. We conclude the case as anaphylactic reaction to lidocaine could have been cause of the event. It is important to collect patients complete past medical history and their allergic history. Also by giving importance to drug sensitivity testing at least to the list of drugs that are reported to show allergic reactions or anaphylactic reactions in post marketing surveillance. Optimised management protocols can save both the patient life and dilemma faced by physicians.