title: Tiletamine-zolazepam anesthesia in North American river otters (Lutra canadensis) and its partial antagonism with flumazenil.
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-zolazepam (median = 65 min) with no adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Medicine Consortium, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Spelman
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Summer
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Karesh
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Stoskopf
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D000931:Antidotes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008297:Male; D010041:Otters / Q000502:physiology*; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013992:Tiletamine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013997:Time Factors; D015041:Zolazepam / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D000931:Antidotes; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D013992:Tiletamine; D005442:Flumazenil; D015041:Zolazepam