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A serious adverse event secondary to rapid intravenous levetiracetam injection in a dog
Author(s) -
Biddick Allison A.,
Bacek Lenore M.,
Taylor Amanda R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of veterinary emergency and critical care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.886
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1476-4431
pISSN - 1479-3261
DOI - 10.1111/vec.12693
Subject(s) - medicine , anesthesia , levetiracetam , tachypnea , adverse effect , pulmonary edema , respiratory arrest , respiratory failure , sedation , tachycardia , pneumonia , blood pressure , epinephrine , mechanical ventilation , lung , epilepsy , psychiatry
Objective To describe a serious adverse event as a result of rapid intravenous injection of undiluted levetiracetam in a dog. Case Summary An 8‐year‐old female spayed Chihuahua was evaluated for cluster seizures and tachypnea. The patient was administered an intravenous dose of undiluted levetiracetam (60 mg/kg) and immediately developed tachycardia, hyperglycemia, hypotension, and a dull mentation. The patient's blood pressure and mentation did not respond to intravenous fluid boluses but improved immediately after administration of epinephrine intravenously. The patient subsequently developed respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation, prior to cardiac arrest. Necropsy examination noted a pulmonary inflammatory cell infiltrate, pulmonary edema, and interstitial pneumonia. New or Unique Information Provided This report documents a serious adverse event associated with intravenous levetiracetam administration to a dog.