Successful cardiovascular resuscitation after massive intravenous bupivacaine overdosage in anesthetized dogs

We investigated whether anesthetized dogs (n = 6) could be resuscitated from massive cardiovascular toxic intravenous bupivacaine overdoses. Five mg/kg of bupivacaine was given into the right atrium over 10 sec every minute until cardiac collapse occurred. At the same time the bupivacaine was given, the animals were made apneic for 90 sec (to mimic the clinical situation in which seizures often render patients apneic) and then ventilated with 100% oxygen. After bupivacaine administration, cardiovascular collapse occurred in the form of ventricular tachycardia, or more commonly, electromechanical dissociation. Resuscitation was performed using open-chest heart massage, bretylium for ventricular tachycardia, and epinephrine with atropine for electromechanical dissociation and bradycardia. After successful resuscitation, each animal was again given bupivacaine as above until cardiovascular collapse occurred and resuscitation was performed again. Each dog underwent three arrests and resuscitations. The total cumulative bupivacaine dose was 64.1 +/- 26.8 mg/kg. We conclude that anesthetized dogs receiving massive cardiovascular toxic doses of bupivacaine can be resuscitated easily and consistently with appropriate therapy.