Title
Tiletamine-zolazepam anesthesia in North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) and its partial antagonism with flumazenil
Author(s)
Spelman L.H., Sumner P.W., Karesh W.B., Stoskopf M.K.
Published
1997
Publisher
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Abstract
North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) were anesthetized with tiletamine-zolazepam or tiletamine-zolazepam-flumazenil combinations in cooperation with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Otter Restoration Project for evaluation of physiologic changes during anesthesia. Sixteen otters received tiletamine-zolazepam (4 mg/kg combined, i.m.) in 1994. Induction and recovery times were recorded and physiologic data (heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, relative oxyhemoglobin saturation, and mean arterial blood pressure) were collected at 5-min intervals. Respiratory depression developed initially in all otters, and median relative oxyhemoglobin saturation remained below 90% for the first 15 min of anesthesia. Anesthetic induction with tiletamine-zolazepam was rapid and smooth, but recovery was prolonged (median = 89 min) and characterized by persistent head motion. In 1995, flumazenil was evaluated as a partial antagonist for tiletamine-zolazepam anesthesia in otters. Sixteen otters were anesthetized with tiletamine-zolazepam (4 mg/kg combined, i.m.) and given flumazenil (1 mg per 25 mg of zolazepam) after 20 min. Flumazenil markedly shortened recovery time in all otters anesthetized with tiletamine-zolazeoam (median = 65 min) with no adverse effects. Copyright 1997 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.
Keywords
anesthetic agent; antidote; flumazenil; hypnotic sedative agent; oxyhemoglobin; tiletamine; zolazepam; anesthesia; animal; animal disease; article; body temperature; breathing; Carnivora; drug antagonism; drug effect; female; heart rate; male; physiology; time; Anesthesia; Anesthetics, Dissociative; Animals; Antidotes; Body Temperature; Female; Flumazenil; Heart Rate; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Male; Otters; Oxyhemoglobins; Respiration; Tiletamine; Time Factors; Zolazepam
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PUB12914