Lipid emulsion therapy: non-nutritive uses of lipid emulsions in anaesthesia and intensive care

Lipid emulsions were introduced into clinical practice more than five decades ago as a calorically dense, non-glucose-based energy source for parenteral nutrition. Recently, intravenous lipid emulsions have been used as rescue for systemic local anaesthetic toxicity. However, the non-nutritive, therapeutic roles of lipid emulsions have recently expanded. This review considers these newer uses of lipid emulsions as drug administration vehicles, for treatment of lipophilic drug toxicity, and as modifiers of ischaemia-reperfusion injury in the anaesthetic and critical care environments. The potential adverse effects of lipid emulsion administration are also succinctly addressed.