Excitement in an elephant after intravenous administration of atropine.
A 28-year-old Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) was anesthetized for cesarean section to remove a dead calf. The elephant was sedated with azaperone, and atropine was administered IV 90 minutes later in preparation for induction of anesthesia with etorphine HCl. Within 1 minute of injection of atropine, the elephant began swaying, kicking, and moving in an agitated manner around the stall. There is considerable variation among species in the toxicity of atropine, although development of toxicosis usually is associated with overdosage.
Gross
M E
ME
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.
Clifford
C A
CA
Hardy
D A
DA
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001376:Azaperone; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004606:Elephants / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005048:Etorphine; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy
D001376:Azaperone; D005048:Etorphine; D001285:Atropine