Availability of and use of Intralipid (lipid rescue therapy, lipid emulsion) in England and Wales.

There is increasing evidence for the use of Intralipid in the management of acute local anaesthetic toxicity. This is supported by the recent Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) guidelines for the management of local anaesthetic toxicity. Acute hospitals in England and Wales were surveyed to determine the proportion that currently stocked Intralipid, the locations of stocks within the hospital, guidelines related to its use and previous use in the last 12 months. The majority of hospitals surveyed stocked Intralipid in multiple locations, although not in all areas using high volumes of local anaesthetics. Guidelines were typically in place, although these were often local rather than those from the AAGBI. Use in the last 12 months was uncommon, but typically information was not available on indications for its use. More systematic data collection is required on the safety and efficacy of Intralipid in the management of acute drug toxicity.