Mechanisms of tachyphylaxis in regional anesthesia of long duration

Abstract

Tachyphylaxis to local anesthetics is defined as a decrease in duration, segmental spread or intensity of a regional block despite repeated constant dosages. However, there is disagreement about the incidence of tachyphylaxis. In contrast to tachyphylaxis, pseudotachyphylaxis denotes time dependent variations in pain or circadian changes in the duration of local anesthetic action. Tachyphylaxis appears neither to be linked to structural or pharmacological properties of the local anesthetics nor to the technique or mode of their administration. The mechanisms underlying tachyphylaxis are open to debate and include changes in pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics. Considering pharmacokinetics, local edema, an increased epidural protein concentration, changes in local anesthetic distribution in the epidural space or a decrease of perineural pH could result in decreased diffusion of the local anesthetics from the epidural space to their binding sites at the sodium channel. Increased clearance of local anesthetics from the epidural space may be caused both by increased epidural blood flow or increased local metabolism. Considering pharmacodynamics, antagonistic effects of nucleotides or increased sodium concentration, increased afferent input from nociceptors or receptor down regulation of the sodium channels have been implicated. However, none of these theoretical considerations is supported strongly enough by data to explain tachyphylaxis. A new possibility to maintain for a longer time neural blockade is the design of new ultralong-acting local anesthetics. Liposomal formulations of local anesthetics also appear suitable to provide longer lasting regional anesthesia. The recent observation that NMDA-antagonists as well as NO-synthase-inhibitors prevent the development of tachyphylaxis suggests involvement of the nitric oxide pathway in the development of tachyphylaxis. Accordingly, NMDA-antagonists or NO-synthase-inhibitors may prevent tachyphylaxis.