[Value of magnesium sulfate and/or valium in preventing local anesthetic toxicity of sacral block].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of magnesium sulfate and/or valium in preventing local anesthetic toxicity induced by sacral block. METHODS: A total of 240 adult patients scheduled for sacral block were randomized equally into four groups matched for sex, age and body weight. Ten minutes before sacral block, the patients in group B received valium (0.1 mg/kg), group C received magnesium sulfate (50 mg/kg), group D received both valium (0.1 mg/kg) and magnesium sulfate (50 mg/kg). The control (group A) received neither valium nor magnesium sulfate. Local anesthetic toxicity was observed and recorded in all the groups. RESULTS: Local anesthetic toxicity was significantly decreased in group B and group C compared with group A (P<0.05), and the toxicity was even more significantly decreased in group D(P<0.01 vs group A). CONCLUSION: Local anesthetic toxicity of sacral block can be significantly decreased by intravenous injection of valium or magnesium sulfate, and their combination produces stronger effects.