The Reversal of Arhythmias Induced by Experimentally Produced Hypercalcemia in Sheep, with Atropine, Caffeine, Verapamil

Authors: Ömer BOZDOĞAN, Kemal IRMAK, Tayfur BEKYÜREK, Necati UTLU

Abstract: Ten morkaraman sheep were used and the effect of atropine, caffeine and verapamil for preventing of arrhythmias observed in calcium infusion that has been made in the treatment of hipocelcemia, has aimed to be researched in this study. The calcium infusion was made intravenously and the arrhythmia was determined by ECG. The atropine (intravenous), caffeine (subepidermal) and verapamil (intramucscular) were given before calcium infusion to prevent these arrhythmias. Serum calcium was 9.31±1 (n=40) in normal animals and was 29.26±5.4 (n=40) at 1. minute, and 11.13±1.3 (n=40) at 30. minutes of following calcium infusion. The supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias were observed in 40 % of animals that only calcium infused and 10 % of aminals given atropine, 30 % of aminals given caffeine or verapamil before calcium infusion. The most severe arrhythmia was observed in animals which only calcium was given. The death was not observed in any animals experimented. Atropine was observed the most effective, in respect to verapamil and caffeine, for preventing of arrhythmia induced by experimentally produced hypercalcemia. Since the sinus rhythm was more rapid in aminals given atropine, that may have role in the suppression of these arrhythmias. Verapamil has been observed not to be effective as atropine, to prevent ventricular arrhythmias induced following calcium infusion. This results may be caused by administration of verapamil intramuscularly.

Keywords: Sheep, hypercalcemia, calcium infusion, arrhythmia