Which of the following is a cardiovascular response to bupivacaine overdose?

In cases of bupivacaine overdose, the most significant cardiovascular response is cardiovascular collapse. This is due to bupivacaine’s potent effects on the cardiac conduction system. High levels of bupivacaine can lead to myocardial depression, decreased cardiac output, and ultimately, cardiovascular instability or collapse.

This cardiovascular collapse can manifest as profound hypotension, bradycardia, and possible cardiac arrest due to the drug's effects on sodium channel blockade in the myocardium, which disrupts normal cardiac function. Monitoring vital signs and recognizing the potential for severe cardiovascular effects are critical for managing bupivacaine toxicity, making awareness of this collapse essential for clinicians.

In contrast, other responses such as increased heart rate, bradycardia, or hypertensive crisis are not typical outcomes of bupivacaine overdose. Increased heart rate may occur at lower levels of local anesthetics due to compensatory mechanisms, but as toxicity escalates, the heart rate often decreases. Bradycardia can occur due to heightened vagal tone or direct myocardial depression, but it is a sign of impending cardiovascular collapse rather than reflecting a stable cardiovascular response. Hypertensive crises are generally linked to other drugs or conditions and are not characteristic of bupiv