Premium
Vecuronium bromide, phenylephrine and atropine combinations as mydriatics in juvenile double‐crested cormorants ( Phalacrocorax auritus )
Author(s) -
Loerzel Suzan M.,
Smith Patricia J.,
Howe Andy,
Samuelson Don A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
veterinary ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.594
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1463-5224
pISSN - 1463-5216
DOI - 10.1046/j.1463-5224.2002.00231.x
Subject(s) - atropine , phenylephrine , anesthesia , chemistry , medicine , blood pressure
Topical vecuronium bromide (Norcuron ® ) and combinations with atropine and phenylephrine, were evaluated as mydriatics in juvenile double‐crested cormorants ( Phalacrocorax auritus ). Nine cormorants were treated with each of four protocols: 1% atropine; 4 mg/mL vecuronium bromide (total 0.16 mg/eye); atropine with vecuronium; and atropine, 2.5% phenylephrine, followed by vecuronium. Drugs were applied topically at 15‐min intervals (0.01 mL/drop). Pupil diameter was measured manually every 15 min with a pupil gauge calibrated to the nearest 0.5 mm. No effect was observed with atropine alone. Average ± SD peak pupil diameter for vecuronium, atropine/vecuronium, and atropine/phenylephrine/vecuronium were 5.4 ± 1.1 mm, 5.7 ± 0.8 mm and 6.2 ± 0.4 mm, respectively; and duration of peak diameters were 38 ± 28 min, 79 ± 71 min and 103 ± 58 min, respectively. The combined atropine, phenylephrine and vecuronium provided the most consistent dilation with larger average pupil size and longer average duration. No side‐effects from vecuronium were observed in these birds.