Intralipid
Encyclopedia
Intralipid is a brand name for the first safe fat emulsion for human use, approved in 1962 in Europe and invented by Professor Arvid Wretlind, Sweden. The FDA initially would not approve the product due to prior experience with another fat emulsion. It was approved in the United States in 1972. It is used as a component of parenteral nutrition for patients who are unable to get nutrition via an oral diet. It is an emulsion of soy bean oil, egg phospholipids and glycerin. It is available in a 10%, 20% and 30% concentration. The 30% concentration is not approved for direct intravenous infusion, but should be mixed with amino acids and dextrose as part of a total nutrient admixture.
Intralipid provides essential fatty acids, linoleic acid
(LA), an omega-6 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid
(ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid
.
Some preparations of the anaesthetic drugs propofol
and etomidate
(the vehicle for etomidate is propylene glycol
) are supplied using Intralipid as a vehicle.
Weinberg et al. have published data indicating Intralipid is effective in treating experimental models of severe cardiotoxicity secondary to intravenous overdose of local anaesthetic drugs such as bupivacaine
(Picard & Meek 2006, Weinberg et al. 1998, 2003 and 2004). Recent case reports have been published of the successful use of lipid emulsion in this way (Rosenblatt 2006, Litz 2006, Foxall 2007) to save patients who were unresponsive to the usual resuscitation methods. All patients recovered completely shortly after intravenous injections of lipid.
Intralipid is also widely used in optical experiments to simulate the scattering properties of biological tissues (Driver et al. 1989). Solutions of appropriate concentrations of intralipid can be prepared that closely mimic the response of human or animal tissue to light at wavelengths in the red and infrared ranges where tissue is highly scattering but has a rather low absorption coefficient.
Intralipid provides essential fatty acids, linoleic acid
Linoleic acid
Linoleic acid is an unsaturated n-6 fatty acid. It is a colorless liquid at room temperature. In physiological literature, it has a lipid number of 18:2...
(LA), an omega-6 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid
Alpha-linolenic acid
α-Linolenic acid is an organic compound found in many common vegetable oils. In terms of its structure, it is named all-cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid. In physiological literature, it is given the name 18:3 ....
(ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid
Omega-3 fatty acid
N−3 fatty acids are essential unsaturated fatty acids with a double bond starting after the third carbon atom from the end of the carbon chain....
.
Some preparations of the anaesthetic drugs propofol
Propofol
Propofol is a short-acting, intravenously administered hypnotic agent. Its uses include the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, sedation for mechanically ventilated adults, and procedural sedation. Propofol is also commonly used in veterinary medicine...
and etomidate
Etomidate
Etomidate is a short acting intravenous anaesthetic agent used for the induction of general anaesthesia and for sedation for short procedures such as reduction of dislocated joints, tracheal intubation and cardioversion...
(the vehicle for etomidate is propylene glycol
Propylene glycol
Propylene glycol, also called 1,2-propanediol or propane-1,2-diol, is an organic compound with formula C3H8O2 or HO-CH2-CHOH-CH3...
) are supplied using Intralipid as a vehicle.
Weinberg et al. have published data indicating Intralipid is effective in treating experimental models of severe cardiotoxicity secondary to intravenous overdose of local anaesthetic drugs such as bupivacaine
Bupivacaine
Bupivacaine is a local anaesthetic drug belonging to the amino amide group. AstraZeneca commonly markets it under various trade names, including Marcain, Marcaine, Sensorcaine and Vivacaine.-Indications:...
(Picard & Meek 2006, Weinberg et al. 1998, 2003 and 2004). Recent case reports have been published of the successful use of lipid emulsion in this way (Rosenblatt 2006, Litz 2006, Foxall 2007) to save patients who were unresponsive to the usual resuscitation methods. All patients recovered completely shortly after intravenous injections of lipid.
Intralipid is also widely used in optical experiments to simulate the scattering properties of biological tissues (Driver et al. 1989). Solutions of appropriate concentrations of intralipid can be prepared that closely mimic the response of human or animal tissue to light at wavelengths in the red and infrared ranges where tissue is highly scattering but has a rather low absorption coefficient.