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

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.