The effect of lidocaine on peripheral hemodynamics.

Lidocaine was given in increasing step-wise dose concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mg/minute and the resulting serum concentrations correlated with the effect of this agent on the peripheral vasculature of seven patients. Lidocaine infusion causes an immediate sustained increase in mean calf venous capacitance but little effect on mean diastolic blood pressure. In high concentration levels this agent causes an increase in mean calf blood flow and systolic blood pressure. Its effect on calf vascular resistance is variable, but there is a tendency to reduce resistance, particularly at a high concentration level. The effect of lidocaine infusion rate on serum lidocaine levels was such that the greater the infusion rate, the higher the resultant serum lidocaine levels.