Cessation of electroencephalographic activity in animals exposed to a lethal dose of succinyldicholine

Abstract

EEG recordings were obtained from anaesthetized elephant, buffalo, impala and rabbits before and after the administration of a lethal dose of scoline. All EEG activity ceased at an arterial haemoglobin-oxygen saturation of about 25% in the species studied. Unanaesthetized rabbits became unconscious at arterial P_o2 of between 23 and 25 mmHg and died at arterial P_o2 of between 19 and 23 mmHg. The margin between unconsciousness and death is thus narrow in rabbits and if this is generally true, the discomfort experienced after the administration of scoline will be perceived until shortly before death in any animal species.