title: Facilitation of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) standing immobilization and anesthesia with a sling.
abstract: An Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) required general anesthesia for orthopedic foot surgery. The elephant was unable to lie down, so it was placed in a custom-made sling, administered i.m. etorphine hydrochloride in the standing position, and lowered to lateral recumbency. General anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane administered through an endotracheal tube. After surgery, the isoflurane anesthesia was terminated, with immobilization maintained with additional i.v. etorphine. The elephant was lifted to the vertical position, and the immobilizing effects of etorphine were reversed with naltrexone. The suspension system and hoist for the sling were designed specifically for the elephant house.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Steffey
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galuppo
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pascoe
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004606:Elephants / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D007103:Immobilization; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000295:instrumentation*