Intraoperative Lidocaine Infusion and Surgery-induced Release of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines After Abdominal Surgery

Lidocaine is an amide local anaesthetic and an antiarrhythmic agent, first synthesized in 1942, and after approval for human use was launched in 1948 in Sweden The first observations of post operative analgesic effects of perioperative intravenous lidocaine (IVL) were initially proposed in 1951 subsequently many more enthusiastic reports followed. Postoperative formal clinical evaluations in the perioperative setting were conducted in the late 1950s where IV Lidocaine was demonstrated to have a postoperative analgesic effect without posing the risk of respiratory depression, reducing the occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and enhance post-surgical recovery. IV Lidocaine also potentiated the depth of anesthesia and led to a better tolerance of endotracheal intubation.Around 40% of patients experience a delay in resumption of normal bowel function after colorectal surgery. This delay leads to symptoms of nausea, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal distension, which then require unpleasant supportive interventions such as intravenous fluids and nasogastric tube insertion. There is no remedy to address this delay. ALLEGRO, "A placebo-controlled randomized trial of intravenous Lidocainein accelerating Gastrointestinal Recovery surgery," is the latest ongoing multicenter research study across the United Kingdom, investigating the use of intravenous lidocaine to improve recovery after colorectal surgery