A novel LC–MS/MS analytical method for detection of articaine and mepivacaine in blood and its application to a preliminary pharmacokinetic study

Local anaesthetics (LAs) are commonly used in surgery, especially in dentistry. They cause a transitory inhibition of nerve signal due to the blockade of the voltage-gated sodium channels. LAs are administrated alone or with vasoconstriction agents, such as adrenaline. Toxicity of LAs is associated to neurological and cardiovascular alterations. Tachycardia, arrhythmia, tremors, tonic-clonic seizure and respiratory depression (at high doses) are the main symptoms of intoxication by LAs. Lidocaine, articaine and mepivacaine are among the most used anaesthetics. This study aimed to fully validated a new method for the simultaneous detection of articaine and mepivacaine in whole blood. Sample …