Objective
The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of lidocaine in a 48-hour infusion in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.
Design
A retrospective substudy of a clinical trial assessing the efficacy of intravenous lidocaine for postoperative cognitive decline.
Setting
University hospital.
Participants
99 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.
Interventions
After induction of anesthesia, lidocaine was administered as bolus of 1 mg/kg and followed by a continuous infusion at 4 mg/min for the first hour, 2 mg/min for the second hour, and 1 mg/min for the next 46 hours.
Measurements and Main Results
Blood samples were taken at baseline, end of cardiopulmonary bypass, and 24 and 48 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass for measurement of plasma concentration of lidocaine. Lidocaine levels increased significantly over time despite a constant rate of infusion (p < 0.05). The pharmacokinetics of lidocaine was best described by a two-compartment model and body weight was found to be a significant factor for the volume of the central compartment and clearance. The final pharmacokinetic parameters were V1(L) = 0.0619*weight, V2(L) = 187, CL1(L/min) =0.00419*weight, CL2(L/min) = 8.92.
Conclusions
A two-compartment pharmacokinetic model best describes the plasma concentrations of 48-hour lidocaine infusion in patients undergoing heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. The inclusion of body weight as a covariate on clearance and central compartment improves the model. Lidocaine infusions should be dosed by body weight and decreased after 24 hours to avoid potential toxicity in long-term infusions.