Age
Data presented in Figure 2 demonstrate a significant quadratic relationship between peak plasma level and age (p=0.00973). Ages <18months have higher peak plasma lidocaine levels after airway topicalisation. This relationship peaks at 18 months and then regresses. This is confirmed in the linear regression of peak plasma against age. Both age and age2 (p=0.0672) are statistically significantly related to peak plasma lidocaine levels.
Median peak plasma lidocaine levels are comparable across the age groups of <1 year, 1-3 years and >3years. However the <1 year age group demonstrates the widest distribution range of peak plasma lidocaine levels. In the age groups of 1-3 years and >3 years there are outliers of peak plasma lidocaine concentrations exceeding the recommended toxic levels of 5000ng/ml. There were no incidences of related clinical adverse effects.