What can cause an increased risk of systemic toxicity during local anesthesia?

Administering a high volume too quickly can indeed lead to an increased risk of systemic toxicity during local anesthesia. When a large volume of anesthetic is introduced into the system rapidly, it can exceed the body's ability to metabolize and clear the drug effectively, resulting in elevated blood levels of the anesthetic agent. This can lead to systematic manifestations of toxicity, such as central nervous system effects (e.g., seizures, altered mental status) and cardiovascular complications (e.g., arrhythmias, hypotension). The speed and volume of the injection are critical factors that need to be carefully managed to minimize the risk of adverse effects.

Although mixing anesthetic agents may create concerns about drug interactions or increased potency, it doesn’t directly relate to volume and speed of administration. Using a lower concentration generally reduces risk of toxicity, as there is less of the anesthetic in the system. Injecting in the wrong location can lead to inadequate anesthesia rather than systemic toxicity, although it could cause complications if the injection enters a vascular structure. Each of these factors interacts with the principles of local anesthesia, but the specific choice concerning volume and speed of administration is particularly relevant to systemic toxicity.