Poisoning of two boys by veterinary anesthetic – xylazine

Overview

Xylazine is a veterinary anaesthetic used on all kinds of animals. Accidental human intoxication is rare, mostly among veterinarians.

This case study describes an oral accidental intoxication of two siblings (brothers, a 5- and a 3-year-old). They drank the anaesthetic stored in soda bottles. They drank 60–80 ml together. The older brother developed altered consciousness (GCS – Glasgow coma Scale – 8), with hypoventilation. He had to be intubated and mechanical ventilation was needed. After 5 hours he started to breathe spontaneously again, in 20 hours he developed gastrointestinal symptoms – repetitive vomiting. The younger brother developed bradycardia and mildly altered consciousness (GCS 11). The anaesthesiologist administered him 1.5 mg Atropine i. v. Both brothers tended to mild hyperglycaemia but were in very good condition 38 hours after intoxication.

Conclusions:
The dominant effect of xylazine on a child is the CNS (Central nervous system) inhibition and cardiac depression. Hyperglycaemia, miosis and vomiting can also occur.

Key words:
veterinary anaesthetic, intoxication, α₂ agonists, altered consciousness