Fundamentals of Zoo Animal Surgery

Chapter 17 Fundamentals of Zoo Animal Surgery



Zoo animal surgery is based on surgical techniques applied to domestic animals and humans. Although technically based on general surgical principles, zoo animal surgery is a specific field because of the wide anatomic and physiologic diversity. Therefore, it requires understanding of surgical procedures as a whole and anatomic and physiologic knowledge of the species involved. It is important for the surgeon to have the opportunity of using necropsies to become familiar with the tissues and anatomy, thus recording the organs’ dimensions and topography. This will provide as much information as possible for the actual procedure. Developing practical knowledge is particularly important when compared with other fields of human and veterinary medicine.


Considering surgery as a therapeutic option requires prompt diagnosis, which is one of the main difficulties, particularly because many zoo animal species tend not to show clinical signs. Recent developments in complementary diagnostic methods and their application to zoo animal medicine have helped in facing this difficulty.


Because the demand for zoo animal surgeries is occasional and of a varied nature, in most cases surgeons hone their skills by performing frequent surgeries on domestic species. This approach may hinder a surgeon’s preparedness to meet zoo animals’ needs fully. It is often necessary to adapt not only to the limitations that will be presented in this chapter, but also to particular anatomic and physiologic features. These adaptations lead to altered techniques used in other fields. Being ready to adjust techniques means also being aware of the different options available to surgery as a whole. Zoo animal surgery is, undoubtedly, a challenging field.


This chapter will summarize the conceptual details of zoo animal surgery and note some of the basic techniques and preparations available for the purpose.




Surgical Facilities and Equipment


One of the main characteristics of zoo animal surgery is the wide diversity of procedures and therefore the different materials and equipment that may be necessary. In practice, it is impossible to predict all the surgical equipment and instruments that may be needed. A recommended approach might be to start with basic materials and equipment used in more common surgeries, eventually getting to the point at which more particular items, such as orthopedic or laparoscopic equipment, are mandatory and require specific resources and well-trained staff.



Surgical Area


It would be beneficial to have two surgery rooms, one for small and another one for large animals, because of specific requirements in regard to equipment, surgical tables, and annexed rooms (Fig. 17-1). The surgical area must follow general standards in terms of security, patient and staff circulation, clean and comfortable environment, and proper organization, as described in literature reports.9,12,14 A video recording system is of particular interest in these procedures as a means of documentation and sharing information.



With the increasing sophistication of surgical techniques and instrumentation available today, surgeries outside a proper surgical facility are becoming less common.14 Nevertheless, occasionally, field surgery is still the option for zoo animals. This is the prevailing choice for large mammals or patients requiring short-duration anesthesia, or even for quick patient anesthetic recovery in an enclosure. In these circumstances, it is useful to have additional portable equipment available—namely, a good light, anesthesia device, oxygen tank, transport stretcher, and adequate surgical tables (e.g., inflatable systems; Fig. 17-2).



In the perioperative period, being able to use nurseries and animal isolation facilities is essential to monitor the patient more suitably. However, this may not always be a valid option; it might involve isolating a member of a group for a period of time long enough to alter its social structure.



Surgical Instrumentation


Accesses, structures, and target tissues vary enormously, so a considerable range of materials must be available. One may consider three basic and relevant instrument packs:





TABLE 17-1 Basic Microsurgery Pack for Delicate Surgery*




































Quantity Instrument
4 Baby mosquito hemostats, curved and straight, 3.75 inches (95 mm)
2 Hemostatic clips
1 Adson tissue forceps, 4.75 inches (120 mm)
1 Iris forceps
1 Microscalpel blade handle, 5.5 inches (135 mm)
1 each Stevens tenotomy scissors, curved and straight
1 Iris scissor, straight
1 Castroviejo needle holder
10 Sterile cotton-tipped applicators
10 Gauze swabs, 0.8 × 0.8 inch (20 × 20 mm)

* Binocular magnification loupes, 2.5 to 5×.


TABLE 17-2 Basic Pack for Small- to Medium-Sized Animals



















































Quantity Instrument
3 Halstead mosquito hemostats, curved and straight, 5 inches (125 mm)
4 Kelly forceps, curved, 5.5 inches (140 mm)
4 Rochester-Pean forceps, curved, 7.25 inches (185 mm)
1 Rat-toothed forceps, 5.75 inches (145 mm)
1 Brown-Adson tissue forceps, 4.75 inches (120 mm)
2 Allis tissue forceps, 6 inches (150 mm)
1 each Scalpel handles, No. 3 and 4
1 Metzenbaum scissors, curved, 7 inches (180 mm)
1 Metzenbaum scissors, straight, 7 inches (180 mm)
1 Mayo scissors, curved, 6.5 inches (165 mm)
1 Mayo-Hegar, Olsen-Hegar or Mathieu needle holder, 7 inches (180 mm)
1 Suture scissors
4 Towel forceps (Backhaus), 5.25 inches (135 mm)
1 Saline bowl
10 Gauze swabs, 4 × 4 inches (100 × 100 mm)

TABLE 17-3 Basic Pack for Large Animals






















































Quantity Instrument
2 Halsted mosquito hemostats
6 Kelly forceps
2 Kocher-Ochsner forceps
2 Rochester-Pean forceps
3 Rat-toothed forceps
1 Brown-Adson tissue forceps
2 Allis-Thoms tissue forceps, 8 inches (200 mm)
1 Scalpel handle, No. 4
1 Metzenbaum scissors, straight, 8 inches (200 mm)
1 Mayo scissors, curved, 8.25 inches (210 mm)
1 Mayo scissors, straight, 8 inches(200 mm)
1 Mayo-Hegar, Olsen-Hegar, or Mathieu needle holder, 8 inches (200 mm)
1 Suture scissors
6 Roeder towel forceps
1 Saline bowl
50 Gauze swabs, 8 × 8 inches (200 × 200 mm)

These packs are the basis for any type of surgery and must be complemented whenever necessary, according to the specific intervention. Electrocautery and portable suction units are examples of valuable and accessible equipment that should be included. Moreover, a diversity of retractors is necessary; the most widely used and recommended are Senn and Farabeuf retractors and self-retaining retractors such as Gelpi, Weitlaner, Finochietto, Balfour, and Lone Star retractors. Lid retractors used for laparotomy in very small animals or handheld retractors with sharp prongs for handling very thick abdominal walls may be an option.


In recent years, technologic advances have led to unprecedented access to new surgical equipment. Although high prices normally delay the integration of newly developed equipment in veterinary medicine, it becomes more affordable over time. Nevertheless, surgeons must become familiar with equipment before its practical application, acknowledging its advantages and its potential limitations. The use of equipment such as stapling devices, surgical lasers, and recently developed vessel sealing systems has become increasingly more common. When used correctly, this equipment has proven its value. Stapling devices may decrease the time of surgery needed for anastomoses and ligations and may also minimize the associated contamination. LigaSure (Covidien, Mansfield, Mass), a modern bipolar vessel sealing system, and Ultracision (Ethicon, Somerville, NJ), a system of ultrasound energy–based shears, are more efficient methods of coagulation when compared with monopolar and bipolar electrocoagulation.7

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Aug 27, 2016 | Posted by in EXOTIC, WILD, ZOO | Comments Off on Fundamentals of Zoo Animal Surgery

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