Lidocaine-induced second-degree mobitz type II heart block

Lidocaine-induced atrioventricular (AV) conduction disturbances are an ill-defined phenomenon. Electrophysiological studies in both animal and human subjects have shown that therapeutic doses of lidocaine have no significant effect on AV nodal and His-Purkinje conduction time in the presence of intact AV conduction. Sporadic reports of accelerated AV conduction or complete heart block following lidocaine administration have been published. One case of Mobitz type II heart block has been reported in a patient with a prolonged QTc interval (0.61 sec) who was also receiving prenylamine. Electrophysiological studies designed to evaluate lidocaine's effects on AV conduction present conflicting observations. We report a case of Mobitz type II heart block following therapeutic doses of lidocaine in the absence of acute myocardial infarction or concomitant cardioactive drug administration. This case, in conjunction with other reported data, suggests the occurrence of lidocaine-induced AV block to be unpredictable. Although its occurrence may be infrequent, the severity of these reactions warrants careful selection and monitoring of patients who are to receive lidocaine.