Lidocaine Infusions for Pain Management in Pediatrics

Paediatr Drugs. 2021 Jul;23(4):349-359. doi: 10.1007/s40272-021-00454-2. Epub 2021 May 26.

Abstract

Lidocaine is an amino amide with a well-established role as a local anesthetic agent. Systemic intravenous administration expands its clinical use to include acute and chronic pain circumstances, such as postoperative pain, neuropathic pain, postherpetic neuralgia, hyperalgesia, visceral pain, and centrally mediated pain. For refractory pain that has not responded to conventional therapy or if further escalation of treatment is prevented by contraindications or side effects to standard therapies, a continuous infusion of lidocaine may be considered as a single intervention or as a sequence of infusions. Here, we review and evaluate published data reflecting the use of lidocaine continuous infusions for pain management in the pediatric population.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anesthesia, Local / methods
  • Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage*
  • Child
  • Chronic Pain / diagnosis
  • Chronic Pain / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Lidocaine / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Neuralgia / diagnosis
  • Neuralgia / drug therapy
  • Pain Management / methods*
  • Pain, Postoperative / diagnosis
  • Pain, Postoperative / drug therapy
  • Pediatrics / methods*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / methods

Substances

  • Anesthetics, Local
  • Lidocaine