Peripheral Nerve Block Local Anesthetic Dose Calculator

Clinical context

This calculator provides the standard maximum doses and corresponding volumes for the listed local anesthetics and concentrations. These values are general upper limits intended to reduce the risk of local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST). The calculator cannot calculate an exact patient-specific reduction; reduce the dose when clinically appropriate for age, pregnancy, low body mass, cardiac or hepatic disease, injection site and vascularity, and cumulative exposure. Use the lowest effective dose and include every local anesthetic administered during the episode of care when assessing the total dose. Inject incrementally with repeated aspiration when appropriate, maintain communication with the patient, and monitor for early neurological symptoms. Stop administration immediately if systemic toxicity is suspected. Sedation or general anesthesia can obscure early warning signs. LAST can occur below the listed maximum dose, particularly after intravascular injection. Resuscitation equipment, a current LAST protocol, and immediate access to lipid emulsion should be available wherever potentially toxic doses are administered.