Serum Concentrations of Prilocaine Following Retrobulbar Block

Abstract

Retrobulbar block for eye surgery is associated with adverse reactions. We performed retrobulbar block in 10 patients using prilocaine (Citanest) and found mean (SD) peak serum concentrations of 851 (165.6) ng ml-1 (range 540-1100 mg ml-1). Peak serum concentrations occurred 3-7 min after the end of administration of the block, and in all cases were less than those associated with toxicity.

Inflammatory signal transduction pathways induced by prilocaine toxicity in cultured ARPE‐19 cells

“…However, it is important to note that after a single‐dose application for peripheral nerve block, these concentrations were reached for a shorter duration in vivo, whereas in the ARPE‐19 cell culture model, the concentrations remained constant for 18 h. In fact, a retrobulbar block for eye surgery was performed in 10 patients using PRL (Citanest), and a mean (SD) peak serum concentration of 851 (165.6) ng/mL (range 540–1100 ng/mL) was reported in these patients. [ 50 ] Peak serum concentrations were recorded 3–7 min after the end of block administration and, in all cases, were less than those associated with toxicity. Clinical data show that the elimination half‐life of PRL is 10–150 min, and longer, with impaired liver or kidney function.…”

The prospects for new treatments in age-related macular degeneration.

“…Equally, 29 out of 50 retained their pretreatment acuity and 17 out of 50 showed no change in the clinical appearance. The treatment period was short in both studies (4)(5)(6) …”