Acute effect of lidocaine on coronary blood flow and myocardial function

The acute effects of lidocaine on coronary blood flow, hemodynamic parameters, and wall function were studied in 14 anesthetized pigs. Lidocaine was infused intravenously as a bolus (dosage range from 1.5 to 4.0 mg/kg). At ten to thirty seconds after infusion, coronary blood flow reached 154 +/- 38% (mean +/- SD) of the baseline resting flow (p less than 0.001). The double product, an estimate of myocardial oxygen demand, decreased from a baseline value of 9221 +/- 2174 to 8008 +/- 1923 mmHg beats/min (p less than 0.01). Sixty seconds postinfusion myocardial function decreased from baseline wall thickening of 46 +/- 25% to 41 +/- 17% (p = 0.04). An acute bolus of lidocaine appears to transiently increase coronary blood flow, by decreasing coronary vascular resistance, and also decrease myocardial function. Thus, an acute lidocaine bolus may favorably alter the myocardial oxygen supply/demand ratio.