Lidocaine/Adrenaline

The aim of this study was to evaluate lidocaine 1.5% adrenaline as an alternative to ropivacaine 0.5% for the echo guided axillary block.

We conducted a 28-month prospective and randomized study (January 15, 2017 to May 15, 2019) conducted in the anesthesia department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital in Conakry, Guinea.

A total of 38 patients were enrolled: 19 in each group. Their average age was 46 ± 17 years in the lidocaine group compared to 44 ± 20 years in the ropivacaine group. The average time to fix the block in the lidocaine group was 6.8 ± 2.1 minutes compared to 8.3 ± 2.4 minutes in the ropivacaine group (p = 0.04). The average duration of action was 233 ± 57 minutes in the lidocaine group versus 260 ± 74 minutes in the ropivacaine group (p= 0.21). The block efficiency rate was identical in both groups with 89.5% of effective blocks in the lidocaine group and in the ropivacaine group (p =1). The cost of consumables for the lidocaine group was 15 euros compared to 60 euros for the ropivacaine group.

1.5% adrenaline lidocaine is a good alternative to ropivacaine 0.5% for the production of echoguided axillary blocks in resource-limited countries.

Spasticity is a common impairment seen in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and may interfere with functional performance and effective walking pattern. Lidocaine iontophoresis is effective for reducing muscle spasticity in adults.

To investigate the effect of lidocaine epinephrine iontophoresis combined with exercises on gait and spasticity in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP).

Thirty children with spastic HCP aged 4-6 (5.20±0.32) years were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 15) and control group (n = 15). Children in both groups received one hour of exercises, three times a week for three months. Children in the experimental group received 2% lidocaine iontophoresis immediately before the exercises. The lidocaine iontophoresis was delivered for 20 minutes (1mA/min). Spatio-temporal gait parameters were assessed within one week before and after the intervention using 3D motion analysis. Surface electromyography was used to assess muscle tone using H/M ratio of the soleus muscle.

There was no difference between groups at baseline. Post-intervention, the experimental group showed significant improvements when compared to the control group for gait speed (p = 0.03), stride length (p = 0.04), cadence (p = 0.0001), cycle time (p = 0.0001), and H/M ratio (p = 0.02).

Lidocaine iontophoresis combined with exercises was effective in improving gait spatiotemporal parameters and reducing spasticity in children with CP.