Lipid infusion (Intralipid 20%®) for local anaesthetic toxicity

 Disclaimer

These guidelines have been produced to guide clinical decision making for the medical, nursing and allied health staff of Perth Children’s Hospital. They are not strict protocols, and they do not replace the judgement of a senior clinician. Clinical common-sense should be applied at all times. These clinical guidelines should never be relied on as a substitute for proper assessment with respect to the particular circumstances of each case and the needs of each patient. Clinicians should also consider the local skill level available and their local area policies before following any guideline. 

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Aim 

To guide PCH Emergency Department (ED) staff in the administration of lipid infusion (Intralipid 20%®) for the acute management of local anaesthetic toxicity following inadvertent intravascular injection during regional anaesthesia in the ED.

This guideline can be used for the management of Lipid Rescue for accidental IV administration of local anaesthetic.

Background

Cardiovascular collapse is the most life-endangering complication of intravascular injection during regional anaesthesia. Intravenous lipid emulsion administration is an established clinical practice for treating local anaesthetic systemic toxicity that also shows promise as an effective antidote for other lipophilic drug poisoning.1

Intravenous Local Anaesthetic Toxicity1

  • Local anaesthetic systemic toxicity is generally considered to be resistant to conventional modes of resuscitation. 
  • Only Intralipid® brand should be used for the treatment of acute local anaesthetic toxicity.
  • The ‘lipid sink’ phenomenon is the most widely accepted mechanism of action for lipids. 
    • The lipid emulsion infusion creates an expanded lipid phase, and the resulting equilibrium drives toxic drug from tissue to the aqueous plasma phase then into the lipid phase. 
    • This draws down the content of lipid-soluble local anaesthetics from within the cardiac tissue, thereby improving cardiac conduction, contractility and coronary perfusion.

Indications

  • The Intralipid® brand of fat emulsion is reserved solely for the emergency management of local anaesthetics inadvertently administered intravenously. No other brands of lipid emulsions are to be used.
  • For signs of local anaesthetic toxicity and immediate management, refer to the Local Anaesthetic Toxicity guideline from the Quick Reference Handbook - Association of Anaesthetists 20232

Lipid rescue

Administration2

Give Lipid Emulsion 20% (Intralipid® brand of Fat Emulsion). Refer to the table below for dose recommendations.

  • Immediately give an IV bolus of 1.5 mL/kg over 1 minute
  • And start an IV infusion at 15 mL/kg/hour
  • A maximum of 2 repeat 1.5 mL/kg IV boluses may be given at least 5 minutes apart if the patient has cardiovascular instability or is in cardiac arrest (Maximum 3 boluses in total) 
  • Increase the rate to 30 mL/kg/hour if haemodynamic stability is not restored after 5 minutes
  • Continue infusion until haemodynamic stability is restored, up to the maximum dose
  • Do not exceed a maximum cumulative dose of 12 mL/kg
  • Base dose on lean body weight in extremely obese patients
  • Precautions - hypersensitivity to egg yolk, soya or peanut protein
     
  Patient weight (kg)
  10 kg  15 kg 20 kg 25 kg 30 kg
Bolus volume
(mL)
administered over 1 minute

(Can repeat after 5 minutes to maximum 3 doses)
15 mL 22.5 mL 30 mL 37.5 mL 45 mL
Initial Infusion rate (mL/hour)
(based on 15 mL/kg/hour)
150 mL/hour 225 mL/hour 300 mL/hour 375 mL/hour 450 mL/hour
Subsequent infusion rate (mL/hour)
(based on 30 mL/kg/hour)
Note: Only increase rate if cardiovascular stability not restored after 5 minutes
300 mL/hour 450 mL/hour 600 mL/hour 750 mL/hour 900 mL/hour
MAXIMUM CUMULATIVE DOSE (mL)
(initial bolus plus the possible two repeat bolus doses plus infusion volume)
120 mL 180 mL 240 mL 300 mL 360 mL
  • Lipid emulsion 20% (Intralipid 20%®) is given in addition to standard Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation.
  • Prompt and effective airway management must be implemented to prevent hypoxia and respiratory acidosis, which may potentiate local anaesthetic toxicity.

Nursing

All patients with suspected local anaesthetic toxicity must have full cardiorespiratory monitoring.

References

  1. Weinberg GL. Lipid emulsion infusion: resuscitation for local anesthetic and other drug overdose. Anesthesiology. 2012;117:180-7
  2. QRH 3-10 Local Anaesthetic Toxicity v.2 Quick Reference Handbook 2023. Association of Anaesthetists 2023. [Internet. Last updated June 2023. Cited: 31 October 2023] Available from: QRH_complete_June_2023.pdf (anaesthetists.org)
  3. Quick Reference Handbook 2023. Association of Anaesthetists 2023. [Internet. Last updated June 2023. Cited: 31 October 2023] Available from: QRH_complete_June_2023.pdf (anaesthetists.org)

Endorsed by:  Drugs & Therapeutics Committee  Date:  Apr 2022


 Review date:  Jan 2024


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