A nurse in the labor and delivery unit is caring for a patient who is receiving Marcaine (bupivicaine) epidural anesthesia. Which of the following symptoms would be recognized as indicative of systemic toxicity?
A) BP drops from 112/74 to 106/68.
B) Patient complains, "I can't feel the baby moving anymore."
C) Patient reports, "I can hear ringing in my ears."
D) Respiratory rate drops from 22 to 16 respirations per minute.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

C) Patient reports, "I can hear ringing in my ears." This symptom is indicative of systemic toxicity from Marcaine (bupivacaine) epidural anesthesia. Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) is a common sign of local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST), which can also include symptoms such as altered mental status, seizures, and cardiovascular disturbances.

A Nurse in the Labor and Delivery Unit Is Caring