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New page: {{unfinished}} Reptilian surgery has much in common with mammalian surgery with some special considerations. ==Preparation== * Assess hydration, metabolic and nutritional status and corr...
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Reptilian surgery has much in common with mammalian surgery with some special considerations.
==Preparation==
* Assess hydration, metabolic and nutritional status and correct as necessary. Ideally take a blood sample. Use aseptic technique.
* Administer preoperative antibiotics if intraoperative contamination is possible. Consider the ambient temperature within the POTZ.
* Position by ties or tapes. Perform a thorough skin preparation. Clear drapes are preferable to cotton drapes since it is still possible to see the patient under them.
==Surgical instruments==
Instruments are similar to those used in mammalian surgery:
* Magnification
* Radiosurgery
* Haemoclips
* Dental curettes and cerumen loops useful for abscesses
* Eyelid retractors useful as abdominal retractors
* Cotton buds and swabs
==Coeliotomy approach==
* Paralumbar and midline approaches are recommended.
* Serious haemorrhage can occur if the ventral abdominal vein (which is very large and located on the ventral midline a few millimetres deep to the linea alba) is cut. A paramedian incision is recommended to avoid this. If a ventral midline approach is used great caution is advised!
==Wound healing==
* Surgical incisions strengthen slowly because of the physiology of reptile would healing. Factors affecting wound healing include: ambient temperature, hygiene, orientation. Leave sutures in for at least three to six weeks.
* Absorption of buried sutures appears prolonged because reptiles may lack proteolytic enzymes. Do not use catgut.
* Skin incisions tend to invert so use an everting suture pattern. Do not use continuous suture pattern in areas of stress
==Post-operative care==
* Use a warm post-operative environment.
* Doxapram hydrochloride is an effective respiratory stimulant and can be used in apnoeic lizards (hypercapnia rather than hypoxaemia drives respiration in reptiles).
* Give fluids to maintain hydration.
* Once awake and responsive place in a warm, dark, quiet environment.
Reptilian surgery has much in common with mammalian surgery with some special considerations.
==Preparation==
* Assess hydration, metabolic and nutritional status and correct as necessary. Ideally take a blood sample. Use aseptic technique.
* Administer preoperative antibiotics if intraoperative contamination is possible. Consider the ambient temperature within the POTZ.
* Position by ties or tapes. Perform a thorough skin preparation. Clear drapes are preferable to cotton drapes since it is still possible to see the patient under them.
==Surgical instruments==
Instruments are similar to those used in mammalian surgery:
* Magnification
* Radiosurgery
* Haemoclips
* Dental curettes and cerumen loops useful for abscesses
* Eyelid retractors useful as abdominal retractors
* Cotton buds and swabs
==Coeliotomy approach==
* Paralumbar and midline approaches are recommended.
* Serious haemorrhage can occur if the ventral abdominal vein (which is very large and located on the ventral midline a few millimetres deep to the linea alba) is cut. A paramedian incision is recommended to avoid this. If a ventral midline approach is used great caution is advised!
==Wound healing==
* Surgical incisions strengthen slowly because of the physiology of reptile would healing. Factors affecting wound healing include: ambient temperature, hygiene, orientation. Leave sutures in for at least three to six weeks.
* Absorption of buried sutures appears prolonged because reptiles may lack proteolytic enzymes. Do not use catgut.
* Skin incisions tend to invert so use an everting suture pattern. Do not use continuous suture pattern in areas of stress
==Post-operative care==
* Use a warm post-operative environment.
* Doxapram hydrochloride is an effective respiratory stimulant and can be used in apnoeic lizards (hypercapnia rather than hypoxaemia drives respiration in reptiles).
* Give fluids to maintain hydration.
* Once awake and responsive place in a warm, dark, quiet environment.