Local Anesthetic Toxicity Workup

Updated: Oct 21, 2022
  • Author: Raffi Kapitanyan, MD; Chief Editor: David Vearrier, MD, MPH  more...
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Workup

Approach Considerations

The evaluation in patients with possible toxicity from a local anesthetic should be guided by the clinical presentation. Blood levels of the anesthetic may be measured, although blood levels may not correlate with toxicity and results are not obtained in a clinically useful time.

Imaging studies are determined by the overall clinical picture. For example, if the patient has a seizure and the etiology of the seizure is not apparent, consider a head computed tomography scan.

Obtain adequate intravenous access. Airway control may require intubation.