Effects of delayed administration of low-dose lidocaine on transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Background: The authors' previous study demonstrated that a clinical antiarrhythmic dose of lidocaine, when given before ischemia, is neuroprotective in a rat model of transient focal cerebral ischemia. In this study, the authors investigated whether the administration of this dose of lidocaine, when delayed until 45 min after the onset of ischemia, also reduces ischemic brain injury.

Methods: Lidocaine was administered as an intravenous bolus (1.