Sympathetic Nervous System Response to Lidocaine Induced Seizures in Cats

The effect on arterial pressure, EEG, preganglionic sympathetic nervous activity and pulse rate of repeated intravenous administrations of lidocaine (3 mg/kg) was investigated in cats anaesthetized with nitrous oxide. A continuous high voltage, burst-suppression EEG indicating constant seizure activity was found, whereas arterial pressure and sympathetic nervous activity did not change significantly. Although the onset of EEG seizure activity did not change the mean sympathetic activity level, the pattern of firing changed dramatically as every EEG seizure triggered a burst of sympathetic impulses. Barostatic reflexes were active after lidocaine administration unless seizure activity occurred. Thiopental 5 mg/kg given intravenously to cats during continuous lidocaine-induced EEG seizures always abolished the seizure activity without excessive depression of arterial pressure.