Abstract
Background Intraoperative vasospasm during reconstructive microvascular surgery is often unpredictable
and may lead to devastating flap loss. Therefore, various vasodilators are used in
reconstructive microsurgery to prevent and relieve vasospasm. Lidocaine is a vasodilator
commonly used in microvascular surgery. Although many reports have described its in
vitro and in vivo concentration-dependent vasodilatory effects, limited studies have
examined the pharmacological effects of lidocaine on blood vessels in terms of persistence
and titer.
Methods In this study, the vasodilatory effect of lidocaine was examined by using the wire
myograph system. Abdominal aortas were harvested from female rats, sliced into rings
of 1-mm thickness, and mounted in the wire myograph system. Next, 10, 5, 2, and 1%
lidocaine solutions were applied to the artery, and the change in vasodilation force,
persistence of the force, and time required to reach equilibrium were measured.
Results The vasodilatory effect was confirmed in all groups following lidocaine treatment.
Although strong vasodilation was observed in the 10% lidocaine group, it was accompanied
by irreversible degeneration of the artery. Vasodilation in the 1% lidocaine group
was weaker than that in the other groups 500 seconds after lidocaine addition (p < 0.05). Between the 5 and 2% lidocaine groups, 5% lidocaine showed a stronger vasodilatory
effect 400 to 600 seconds after lidocaine addition (p < 0.01); however, there was no significant difference in these groups after 700 seconds.
Additionally, there was no difference in the time required for the relaxation force
to reach equilibrium among the 5, 2, and 1% lidocaine groups.
Conclusion Although our study confirmed the dose-dependent vasodilatory effect of lidocaine,
5% lidocaine showed the best vasodilatory effect and continuity with minimal irreversible
changes in the arterial tissue.
Keywords
wire myography - lidocaine - vasodilator - microvascular surgery - reconstructive
microsurgery
