Systemic toxicity with mepivacaine following axillary block in a patient with terminal kidney failure

As onset time and duration of sensory block are intermediate, mepivacaine is widely used for regional anaesthesia. Few reports of systemic adverse effects are available following nerve blockade with mepivacaine. We report the case of a 54-year-old patient suffering from terminal renal failure who needs the confection of an arteriovenous shunt under axillary brachial plexus block. At completion of the injection of 25 ml (375 mg) of 1.5% mepivacaine the patient presented dysarthria, mental confusion followed by a loss of verbal contact and agitation, but no convulsion or cardiac dysrythmia. The patient received midazolam and surgery was planned the following day under general anaesthesia. Plasma mepivacaine concentration at time of neurological signs was measured at 5.1 microg/ml. Prevention and treatment of systemic toxic effects after regional anaesthesia are discussed.