Question 17

Classify local anaesthetic agents and give examples. (30% of marks) Describe the pharmacology of lignocaine. (70% of marks)

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College Answer

The first part of this question was answered well by most candidates.
Generally, the second part of the question was poorly organised by many candidates, the 
consequence being that many opportunities for picking up marks were lost. A brief statement 
as to what lignocaine is, its presentations and dose, some facts about PD and PK followed by a 
few lines on toxicity (CC/CNS ratio) was mostly what was required. Only a few candidates 
mentioned lignocaine toxicity.

Discussion

The classification of local anaesthetic agents is usually along chemical lines, into esters and amides 

  • Esters  have an ester intermediate chain 
    • Cocaine, procaine, tetracaine
  • Amides have an amino intermediate chain
    • Lignocaine, prilocaine, ropivocaine and bupivacaine

Lignocaine:

Class Class Ib antiarrhythmic
Chemistry Aminoamide
Routes of administration IV, inhaled, subcutaneous
Absorption Oral bioavailability = 35%
Solubility pKa = 7.9; about 25% is not ionised at pH 7.4
Distribution VOD= 0.9L/kg; 70% protein-bound
Target receptor Nav1.5 subunit of the fast voltage-gated sodium channels
Metabolism Hepatic metabolism (90-95%)
Elimination Minimally renally excreted; half-life 10-20 minutes following IV bolus, closer to 45-90 minutes with subcutaneous infiltration
Time course of action Duration of action is similar to half-life
Mechanism of action Regional anaesthesia, by differential block (pain and temperature finres are blocked earlist). With higher doses, also motor block. In toxicity, CNS effects (visual disturbances, perioral mumbness, delirium,seizures, coma) and cardiovascular side effects (initially tachycardia and hypertension followed by bradycardia, negative inotropy, vasodilation and arrhythmias) Does not prolong the QRS, and actually shortens the QT.
Clinical effects Antiarrhythmic effect, analgesic and local anaesthetic effects. Lowers seizure threshold, causes CNS excitation. Does not prolong the QRS, and actually shortens the QT.
Single best reference for further information Weinberg et al (2015)

References

HOLMDAHL, M. H: SON. "Xylocain (lidocaine, lignocaine), its discovery and Gordh's contribution to its clinical use." Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 42 (1998): 8-12.

Eipe, N., S. Gupta, and J. J. B. E. Penning. "Intravenous lidocaine for acute pain: an evidence-based clinical update." Bja Education 16.9 (2016): 292-298.

Weinberg, Laurence, et al. "Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of lignocaine: A review." World Journal of Anesthesiology 4.2 (2015): 17-29.