The recent publication "Place de la lidocaïne intraveineuse dans le traitement de la douleur aiguë et chronique" by Delphine Lejeune, Gabriel Thierry, Abdourhamane Kaba, Vincent Bonhomme, and Gregory Hans offers a timely and practical synthesis of intravenous lidocaine's role in pain management. Published in Le Praticien en Anesthésie Réanimation and available via ScienceDirect at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1279796026001002, the review examines how this established local anesthetic, when administered intravenously, provides meaningful analgesia across both acute postoperative settings and persistent chronic pain conditions.
Understanding Intravenous Lidocaine as an Analgesic Tool
Intravenous lidocaine refers to the systemic administration of the amide-type local anesthetic lidocaine, traditionally used for regional blocks or arrhythmia control. When given intravenously at sub-anesthetic doses, it exerts central and peripheral effects that modulate pain signaling pathways without producing the dense sensory or motor blockade seen with local infiltration. The authors detail its pharmacokinetics, noting rapid distribution and hepatic metabolism, which allow for controlled infusion protocols that minimize toxicity risks when monitored appropriately.
Clinicians have long recognized lidocaine's sodium-channel blocking properties, but the intravenous route unlocks additional benefits through anti-inflammatory actions and inhibition of ectopic nerve firing. This makes it particularly relevant in an era of opioid stewardship, where multimodal strategies seek to reduce reliance on narcotics while maintaining effective pain control.
Mechanisms of Action in Pain Pathways
The review carefully explains how intravenous lidocaine interrupts nociceptive transmission at multiple levels. It stabilizes neuronal membranes by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels, thereby reducing spontaneous discharges in injured nerves. Additional effects include modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, suppression of microglial activation, and attenuation of central sensitization—key processes in the transition from acute to chronic pain.
These mechanisms explain its utility in neuropathic conditions where conventional analgesics often fall short. The authors emphasize that effects can persist beyond the infusion period, suggesting longer-term neuroplastic changes rather than purely pharmacokinetic action.
Applications in Acute Pain Management
In perioperative and acute settings, intravenous lidocaine infusions have demonstrated consistent opioid-sparing effects. Protocols typically involve a loading dose followed by continuous infusion titrated to patient response and plasma levels. The paper highlights benefits in abdominal, thoracic, and orthopedic surgeries, where reduced postoperative pain scores and faster recovery of bowel function are commonly reported.
Emergency department use for conditions such as renal colic or acute herpetic neuralgia is also discussed, with the authors noting rapid onset and favorable safety profile when administered under appropriate monitoring. This positions intravenous lidocaine as a valuable adjunct in fast-track recovery pathways and enhanced recovery after surgery protocols.
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Role in Chronic and Neuropathic Pain Syndromes
The core strength of the publication lies in its detailed exploration of chronic pain applications. Peripheral neuropathies, complex regional pain syndrome, and post-surgical persistent pain emerge as areas where intravenous lidocaine shows particular promise. The authors review evidence for its use in fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, and trigeminal neuralgia, often as part of a broader multimodal regimen.
Case series and controlled studies cited in the review indicate that a subset of patients experience prolonged relief lasting days to weeks after a single infusion course. This "wind-down" effect supports its role in breaking pain cycles and facilitating rehabilitation or transition to oral therapies.
Evidence Base and Clinical Recommendations
Lejeune and colleagues synthesize findings from randomized trials, observational studies, and expert consensus. While not every patient responds equally, predictors of success include neuropathic pain descriptors, absence of major psychiatric comorbidity, and careful dose titration. The paper provides practical guidance on infusion rates, monitoring parameters, and contraindications such as cardiac conduction abnormalities or hepatic impairment.
Recommendations stress individualized assessment, starting with diagnostic infusions in refractory cases, and integration with physical therapy, psychological support, and other pharmacologic agents. Safety protocols, including electrocardiographic monitoring and lipid emulsion availability for toxicity management, receive appropriate emphasis.
Limitations, Safety Considerations, and Future Directions
The authors candidly address limitations, including variable response rates, the need for specialized settings, and the current lack of large-scale, long-term outcome data. Cost-effectiveness analyses and head-to-head comparisons with other adjuncts such as ketamine or gabapentinoids remain areas for further study.
Future research directions outlined include optimized dosing regimens, biomarker identification for patient selection, and exploration of outpatient or home-infusion models. The growing interest in personalized pain medicine aligns well with these avenues.
Implications for Academic and Clinical Practice
This publication arrives at a moment when pain management education and research are evolving rapidly. University programs training anesthesiologists, pain specialists, and palliative care teams will find the review a concise yet comprehensive resource. It underscores the value of translational research that bridges pharmacology and clinical outcomes.
For institutions seeking to expand multimodal pain services, the authors' practical framework offers a starting point for protocol development and staff training. The emphasis on evidence-informed, patient-centered care resonates with broader calls for improved pain education across medical curricula.
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Conclusion and Outlook
The work by Lejeune, Thierry, Kaba, Bonhomme, and Hans provides clinicians and researchers with a clear, balanced assessment of intravenous lidocaine's current and potential place in acute and chronic pain treatment. By combining mechanistic insight with pragmatic recommendations, the review supports its thoughtful integration into contemporary pain practice while highlighting opportunities for further investigation.
Readers are encouraged to consult the full article at the provided ScienceDirect link for detailed protocols and references. As the field continues to prioritize non-opioid strategies, publications of this caliber play an essential role in guiding safe and effective care.