The study analyzed the difference between mixed and long-chain lipid emulsions for their ability to extract local anesthetic from serum. Local anesthetics are used to block pain responses during surgery, and toxicity can occur on rare occasions. In case of toxicity, lipid emulsion infusion can be used to form a “lipid sink” that causes the anesthetic to be absorbed out of the serum and away from crucial areas such as the heart.
The researchers hoped to further previous research regarding the use of lipid rescue in anesthetic toxicity, according to the report. The findings showed that lipid emulsion with medium and long-chain triglycerides extract local anesthetics more effectively than emulsion with only long-chain triglycerides. The study also found that lipid emulsion infusion extracts local anesthetics out of a patient’s serum at an acidic blood pH the same as it would at a normal pH.
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