Anaesthetic management in adult reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>) undergoing exploratory laparotomy for jejuno-jejunal intussusception surgery resection

Parra Martinez, Cristina; Young, Natalie; Fiske-Jackson, Andrew; Bianchi, Cristina

Abstract

A 2-year-old, male reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) presented for further investigations and treatment of acute colic signs. On clinical investigations, an ultrasonographic abdominal exam revealed multiple hypomotile, dilated and fluid-filled small intestinal loops. Based on clinical findings and increased signs of abdominal pain, small intestine obstruction was suspected, and an exploratory laparotomy was performed. The animal was premedicated with medetomidine (0.003 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg) intravenously. General anaesthesia was induced with ketamine (2 mg/kg intravenously) and propofol (3 mg/kg intravenously), and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Additional analgesia was provided with methadone (0.1 mg/kg intravenously) and ketamine (0.5 mg/kg intravenously). A jejuno-jejunal intussusception requiring resection of approximately 6 inches (15 cm) was identified and jejuno-jejuno anastomosis was performed. Fluid resuscitation was administered for treatment of hypotension during general anaesthesia. Recovery from anaesthesia was uneventful. Nevertheless, the deer was euthanased 5 days later due to clinical deterioration.

Citation

Parra Martinez, C., Young, N., Fiske-Jackson, A., & Bianchi, C. (2024). Anaesthetic management in adult reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) undergoing exploratory laparotomy for jejuno-jejunal intussusception surgery resection. Vet Record Case Reports, https://doi.org/10.1002/vrc2.846

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 1, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Mar 13, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 25, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 25, 2024
• Print ISSN: 2052-6121
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/vrc2.846
• Keywords: anaesthesia; deer; intussusception; reindeer; MEDETOMIDINE-KETAMINE; CHEMICAL IMMOBILIZATION; REGIONAL ANESTHESIA; AMBIENT-TEMPERATURE; DEER; PLATYRHYNCHUS; BUTORPHANOL; CONFINEMENT; AZAPERONE; VALUES