What is the maximum dosage of 2% lidocaine for a patient weighing 200 lbs?

To determine the maximum dosage of 2% lidocaine for a patient weighing 200 lbs, it’s important to understand how to calculate the maximum safe dosage based on the patient's weight and the concentration of the anesthetic.

Lidocaine typically has a safe maximum dosage of approximately 5 mg/kg. First, we need to convert the patient’s weight from pounds to kilograms, knowing that 1 kg is approximately 2.2 lbs. For a patient weighing 200 lbs, we divide by 2.2, which gives us about 90.9 kg (200 lbs ÷ 2.2 = 90.9 kg).

Next, we multiply the weight in kg by the maximum dosage of lidocaine, which is 5 mg/kg:

90.9 kg × 5 mg/kg = 454.5 mg.

It is common to round this number to the nearest 50 mg for practical purposes in clinical settings, leading us to a rounded maximum dose of approximately 450 mg. Given the answer choices available, the closest and correct answer is 400 mg/appt. This is just under the calculated maximum dose and fits well within the safe administering limits for local anesthesia.

When considering the available dosages, the other values either