Faculty Bibliography

Serum lidocaine concentrations were determined following subcutaneous administration for local anesthesia in the management of lacerations in the emergency room setting. Thirty patients received doses of lidocaine hydrochloride 1% solution ranging from 10 to 300 mg. Venous blood samples were drawn 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after lidocaine administration. Serum lidocaine determinations were made using an immunoassay system and verified by gas chromatography. There was no evidence of lidocaine absorption from the subcutaneous injection sites. There were no detectable concentrations of lidocaine in any of the patient blood samples. The absorption characteristics of subcutaneously administered lidocaine appear to be altered in traumatized tissue

General management of the patient who has ingested an overdose of psychoactive medication is emphasized, since the suicidal patient has almost invariably taken multiple substances and often alcohol as well. The drug groups considered in detail include the sedative hypnotics, tricyclic antidepressants, phenothiazines, and lithium.

A pooling of public and private resources has created a regional poison control system which provides information and education to the medical and lay communities of metropolitan New York City. An overview of the poisoning problem on a national scale is followed by a description of the operations by the Center, and a special volunteer effort