Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis episode during halothane anesthesia in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1996
- Authors:
- Bailey, J E et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 7-month-old Quarter Horse filly was brought in for surgery to fix a broken bone in her elbow. During the anesthesia process, about two and a half hours in, she started showing signs of muscle stiffness, twitching, and sweating, along with high levels of potassium in her blood, which indicated a condition called hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (a genetic disorder that affects muscle control). To treat her, the veterinary team provided special breathing support, changed her IV fluids, and gave her several medications, including calcium and sodium bicarbonate. After treatment, her symptoms improved, and her potassium levels returned to normal. The horse was later found to carry the gene for hyperkalemic periodic paralysis.
Abstract
A 7-month-old Quarter Horse filly was admitted for surgical repair of a right olecranon fracture. Anesthesia was achieved with xylazine hydrochloride, guaifenesin, ketamine hydrochloride, and halothane. Two and a half hours after induction of anesthesia, myotonia, muscle fasciculations, and sweating, concurrent with high serum potassium concentration and associated electrocardiographic changes consistent with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, were observed. Treatment included intermittent positive-pressure ventilation, changing intravenous administration of fluids from lactated Ringer's solution to 0.9% NaCl solution, and administration of calcium gluconate, glycopyrrolate, dopamine, and sodium bicarbonate. Clinical signs resolved with the return of serum potassium concentrations to the reference range. The horse was confirmed to be heterozygous for hyperkalemic periodic paralysis by DNA testing.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8675475/