Urticaria After Lidocaine Use for Pecto-Intercostal Nerve Block

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Vats T Ambai, Emory University; Neel Atawala, Mercer University; Arun Kalava, University of Central Florida
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-02-10
• Publisher: Cureus, Inc.
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2023, Ambai et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.34834
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Cureus
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 2
• Keywords: urticaria; lidocaine; regional anesthesia; case report; allergy
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Urticaria within one hour of lidocaine injection is a sign of type I (immediate) hypersensitivity to lidocaine, yet most patients suspected of having a lidocaine allergy do not exhibit urticaria. Aside from being a sign of a rare lidocaine allergy, urticaria can also be a symptom of COVID-19. COVID-19 patients who experience urticaria after receiving lidocaine require careful evaluation to determine the cause. Here, we present a case of a patient exhibiting urticaria one hour after a lidocaine injection for the Pecto-intercostal nerve block to treat COVID-19-induced costochondritis.