Nerve blocks. I’m a fan. Lido works great. But the other options are very helpful for local blocks after surgery. Here are some basic calculations.
The two blocks I use the most are lido and bupivacaine. These are AmIdes. The things I don’t use (cocaine, procaine, tetracaine) are esters.
Lidocaine 1%, lasts 1 h
I weight about 75 kg. So, the most lidocaine (1%) I should use is:
75kg * 5mg/kg * 1 mL / 10 mg = 37 mL , without epi
The calculation is mass in kg * 5 / 10 or mass/2
with epi, I can use 75 * 7 / 10= 52 mL, with epi
Bupivicaine (aka Marcaine) 0.5%, lasts for HOURS!!
75 kg * 2.5 mg/kg * 1/5 = 75kg / 2 = 37 mL
Amazing!! this rule is similar to epinephrine. Mass in kg / 2
Bupivicaine/Marcaine + epi
75kg * 3/5 = 45 mL
I think dealing with the large epi dose is going to unnecessarily complicate things and be a source of confusion. Just use the lower dose, kilograms / 2.
Quarter marcaine == use the pts weight in kilos
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