Korean J Anesthesiol.  1975 Jun;8(1):109-113.

Postanesthetic Unusual Excitement due to Atropine Overdose

• Chun IK
• Chon SU

Abstract

Postanesthetic unusual excitement and prolonged postauesthetic recovery time were experienced after general anesthesia. The cause was discovered later due to accidentally administered atropine overdoses. Atropine vials supplied by the hospital pharmacy were labeled no containing quantity. After survey, the content of atropine was notified as 5 mg/ml instead of 0.5 mg/ml. It was ten times stronger content of the usual dose. General anesthesia were performed under halothane-N2O or methoxyflurane-N2O with semi- closed circle absorber system. Pentothal sodium or epontol intravenously was used as induction agent. For premedication, valium and atropine or valium, demerol and atropine was given intramuscularly. Additional atropine was given before reversing the muscle relaxation with neostigmine. 20 cases of acute atropine toxicity after general anesthesia were analysed for incidence of excitement, prolonged recovery time, total doses of atropine, change of the pulse rate, scarlet and tremor. The results were as follows; 1. Postanesthetic unusual excitement was observed but there were no mortality. 2. Doses of accidentally administered atropine were 9.53+/-4.75 mg (Mean+/-S.D.) 3 Postanesthetic recovery time was unusually prolonged, Mean recovery time was 146.1+/-24.4 minutes. 4. Among the patients, the following rate of complications were found; unusual excitement was 75%, scarlet was 50% and tremor was 10%, respectively 5. Law of the pharmacist should be strictly observed to prevent the accidental overdoses.

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Atropine*
Diazepam
Heart Rate
Humans
Incidence
Jurisprudence
Meperidine
Mortality
Muscle Relaxation
Neostigmine
Pharmacists
Pharmacy
Premedication
Propanidid
Sodium
Thiopental
Tremor
Atropine
Diazepam
Meperidine
Neostigmine
Propanidid
Sodium
Thiopental