Clinical use of lidocaine for control of stroke oedema in the posterior cranial fossa accompanied by acute hydrocephalus.

Intravenous Lidocaine, in combination with steroid and Mannitol was used in 17 critical cases to control posterior fossa stroke oedema with jeopardised upward or downward herniation. Lidocaine successfully provided time for observation to select 5 correct candidates out of 17, indicated for aggressive decompression surgery in addition to ventricular drainage for acute hydrocephalus. There is no 'Golden-Rule' for this situation but the use of Lidocaine has a place in the management of it.