We prospectively studied the clinical applicability of intravenous
lidocaine for regional anesthesia in the lower extremity in fifty-eight
consecutive patients. The effectiveness of the anesthesia that was obtained
for a variety of procedures done at or distal to the knee was rated as
excellent or good in 94 per cent of the patients. No significant
cardiovascular or neural complications were encountered, and the levels of
lidocaine in the blood were well below the toxic range. We attribute the
success of this method to the use of a large volume of fluid, double
pretested tourniquets, and judicious premedication to delay the onset of
discomfort caused by the tourniquet.