Intravenous lidocaine infusion for the treatment of acute pain in the pediatric intensive care unit: case series

Abstract

Introduction: The use of intravenous lidocaine infusion has increased over the past decade as part of a multimodal approach to analgesia in adults; however, information about its safety and tolerability in the pediatric population is limited. \nMethods: Acute pain management using lidocaine infusion in eleven patients treated in the pediatric intensive care unit. \nResults: Five cases of postoperative abdominal pain and six cases of non-operative abdominal pain. Two cases were cancer patients affected by neutropenic colitis. Analgesic control achieved was good. \nConclusion: Lidocaine infusions are apparently a safe option for the management of acute pain, either post-operative or not, in the pediatric population.