# Altered Mental Status and Quadriparesis in Ambulatory Surgical Care: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A 70-year-old man experienced rare side effects from lidocaine during a minor surgery, highlighting the importance of recognizing and preventing local anesthetic toxicity.

## Contribution

This case report raises awareness of local anesthetic systemic toxicity in non-anesthesiology settings.

## Key findings

- The patient showed symptoms of LAST after lidocaine use for a minor procedure.
- No major neurological or vascular issues were found, and the patient recovered fully.
- The case highlights the need for preventive strategies and clinician awareness.

## Abstract

This case report describes a rare instance of local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) following subcutaneous lidocaine administration for a minor surgical procedure. A 70-year-old male patient developed agitation, dysarthria, and quadriparesis postoperatively, with subsequent investigations revealing a pneumothorax but no major neurological or vascular compromise. The diagnosis of LAST was made after exclusion of other causes. The patient recovered fully within hours without any specific management. This case underscores the need for improved awareness of LAST among non-anesthesiology clinicians and emphasizes preventive strategies for local anesthetic use.