Abstract
The efficacy of lidocaine (Lid) for status epileptics in low-birth-weight infants and neonates was studied retrospectively. Intravenous drip infusions of Lid (2-4mg/kg/hr) were performed in nine patients who had intractable seizures refractory to treatment with conventional anti-convulsants, such as diazepam, phenobarbital, or phenytoin. The gestational ages of patients were between 25 and 40 weeks and the birth-weights were 580 to 3,200 grams. The administration of Lid was very effective in five patients (56%) with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy except one, and was not effective in four patients with intracranial hemorrhage, lissencephaly, or chromosomal abnormality. Cardiac arrhythmia was noted in one of the five cases three hours after Lid administration and the therapy was discontinued. The blood concentrations of Lid twenty-four hours after administration were 3.3 to 5.5μg/ml. Continuous intravenous Lid appeared effective in premature infants and neonates with intractable seizures.
