Effects of lidocaine infusion in cats after unilateral labyrinthectomy

In the auditory/vestibular system, intravenous lidocaine hydrochloride administration has been reported to provide transient relief from severe tinnitus, reduce dizziness and emesis accompanying Meniere's disease, and sometimes improve audiometric thresholds in sensorineural hearing loss. In this study, the labyrinth was destroyed unilaterally in a series of cats. Animals constantly fell and demonstrated prominent contralateral nystagmus and a rotary motion of the head. Within four hours of a 4-mg/kg intravenous lidocaine hydrochloride injection, the cats were able to ambulate freely without falling. The nystagmus was reduced, and there was virtual absence of the rotary head motion. In contrast, the controls had persistent signs of vestibular disturbance. These results demonstrate that lidocaine infusion ameliorates the effects of unilateral labyrinthectomy in cats and thus may be a potential antivertiginous agent.