This case report of a patient with a traumatic head injury provides an example of a systemic toxic reaction to a local anesthetic. Clinical signs of a systemic toxic reaction and hemorrhagic shock may initially be similar: tachycardia, hypotension and unconsciousness. The purpose is thus to remind that even the treatment of a minor injury can develop into a life-threatening condition. When a skin wound is treated using suture under local or regional anesthesia, the annual incidence rate of systemic toxic reactions is 1:3,000 and that of death is 1:30,000.
Keywords: adverse events; anaphylaxis; mesocain; toxic reaction; trimecain.