An umbilical hernia was diagnosed in a 2-wk-old Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) by physical and ultrasonographic examinations. Umbilical herniorrhaphy was elected because the defect was large (approximately 7 cm long and 10 cm deep) and could potentially lead to incarceration of an intestinal loop. General anesthesia was induced with a combination of ketamine, xylazine, and diazepam and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. The hernial sac was explored and contained fibrous tissue, fat, and an intestinal loop but no adhesions. The hernial sac was resected and the body wall closed using the technique of simple apposition. Following a superficial wound infection, the surgical site healed with no further complications.
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1 June 2004
UMBILICAL HERNIORRHAPHY IN A JUVENILE ASIAN ELEPHANT (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS)
Noha Abou-Madi,
George V. Kollias,
Richard P. Hackett,
Norm G. Ducharme,
Robin D. Gleed,
John P. Moakler
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Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Vol. 35 • No. 2
June 2004
Vol. 35 • No. 2
June 2004
Anesthesia
Asian elephant
Elephas maximus
surgery
umbilical hernia