title: Anesthetic management of a white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) undergoing an emergency exploratory celiotomy for colic.
abstract: METHODS
  A 26-year-old male white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), weighing approximately 2000 kg was anesthetized for an exploratory celiotomy. Sedation was achieved with intramuscular butorphanol (0.04 mg kg(-1)) and detomidine (0.025 mg kg(-1)) and induction of anesthesia with intravenous glyceryl guaiacolate (50 g) and three intravenous boluses of ketamine (200 mg, each); the trachea was then intubated and anesthesia maintained with isoflurane in oxygen using a circle breathing system. Positioning in dorsal recumbency for the surgery and later in sternal recumbency for the recovery represented challenges that added to the prolonged anesthesia time and surgical approach to partially correct an impaction. The rhinoceros recovered uneventfully after 10.4 hours of recumbency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anesthetic management for an exploratory celiotomy with a midline approach is possible in rhinoceroses, although planning and extensive staff support is necessary to adequately position the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada. valverde@uoguelph.ca
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.forename: Graham J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Crawshaw
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cribb
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellei
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gianotti
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kummrow
authors.forename: Maria Carolina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000662:veterinary; D000777:Anesthetics; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000601:surgery; D002077:Butorphanol; D003085:Colic / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000662:veterinary; D007093:Imidazoles; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000662:veterinary; D007530:Isoflurane; D007649:Ketamine; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010527:Perissodactyla / Q000601:surgery*; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000777:Anesthetics; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D007093:Imidazoles; D007649:Ketamine; C041255:detomidine; D007530:Isoflurane; D002077:Butorphanol