Abstract
Lignocaine hydrochloride (400 mg) was given orally to 12 patients prior to anaesthesia for laparoscopy. Serial blood samples were taken for estimation of plasma lignocaine concentrations. The results were compared with those obtained from 7 conscious healthy volunteers who took lignocaine alone. There was a marked delay in the rise of plasma concentrations of lignocaine in the anaesthetized patients indicating delayed absorption. In these patients the drug disappeared from the plasma much more slowly, suggesting impaired metabolism of lignocaine. This effect could not be attributed to halothane.