UPPER AIRWAY-OBSTRUCTION AND PROLONGED RECOVERY FROM ANESTHESIA FOLLOWING INTRANASAL CLOTRIMAZOLE ADMINISTRATION

A 16-month-old Labrador retriever was presented for evaluation and tre atment of nasal aspergillosis. Intranasal clotrimazole was administere d to treat the condition. The dog was anesthetized on two occasions to facilitate drug administration. Following the first treatment, the do g developed mild pharyngitis but not other complications. Inflammation and edema of the pharynx resulted in upper-airway obstruction followi ng second treatment. Pentobarbital sedation was used to maintain the e ndotracheal tube until the obstruction was relieved. Recovery followin g sedation was extremely prolonged. This case illustrates two adverse drug reactions: severe pharyngitis and edema (probably a result of the vehicles present in the clotrimazole formulation) and prolonged recov ery (possibly the result of microsomal enzyme inhibition by the clotri mazole).