Umbilical herniorrhaphy in a juvenile Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).
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.
Abou-Madi
Noha
N
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Kollias
George V
GV
Hackett
Richard P
RP
Ducharme
Norm G
NG
Gleed
Robin D
RD
Moakler
John P
JP
D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D004606:Elephants; D005260:Female; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000662:veterinary