Manipulation of hyperbaric lidocaine using a weak magnetic field: a pilot study.

Thiele, Robert H; Colquhoun, Douglas A; Gillies, George T; Tiouririne, Mohamed · Anesth Analg · 2012

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

High spinal block is a potentially fatal complication of spinal anesthesia, with an incidence of 0.6 per 1000. Current prevention strategies include decreasing the dose of local anesthetic drug and altering patient positioning such that the location of hyperbaric anesthetic drugs in the neuraxis can be manipulated by gravity. Incorporation of a ferrofluid into a local anesthetic solution, combined with application of an external magnetic field in an in vitro spine model, allowed control of position of a solution of ferrofluid, dye, and local anesthetic against gravity, suggesting an additional mechanism by which anesthesia providers may prevent high spinal block.

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