Lidocaine
Lidocaine is an antiarrhythmic agent utilized in ACLS to treat VT/VF if amiodarone is not available. Lidocain has been in use for many years, but has no proven efficacy in the short or long term treatment of patients in cardiac arrest.
What is Lidocaine?
Lidocaine is an antiarrhythmic agent utilized in ACLS to treat VT/VF if amiodarone is not available. Lidocain has been in use for many years, but has no proven efficacy in the short or long term treatment of patients in cardiac arrest.
Lidocaine Indications
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Ventricular Fibrillation
Use only if amiodarone is not available.
Lidocaine Dosage
- Cardiac Arrest from VT / VT: 1 – 1.5 mg/kg via IV/IO
- Refractory VF: Additional 0.5 – 0.75 mg/kg via IV/IO; Repeat every 5 – 10 minutes for maximum of 3 doses, or 3 mg/kg
- Stable VT: 0.5 – 0.75 mg/kg up to 1.5 mg/kg; Repeat in 0.5 – 0.75 mg/kg doses to maximum of 3 mg/kg
- Maintenance Infusion: 1 – 4 mg/min
Lidocaine Precautions/Side Notes
- Not recommended routinely following cardiac arrest, but may be used following ROSC
- May be used for stable polymorphic ventricular tachycardia with normal baseline QT AND torsades
- If left ventricular dysfunction or impaired liver function are present, decrease maintenance doses
- Do not use prophylactically after myocardial infarction
