|
|
PATIENTS |
INDEX |
AND STAFF |
|
|
ALBUM |
& SCOUTS |
|
| dare | bear | coquina | honey | kiawah | bay | cape | sea | corey II | AT |
| barnie | cedar II | pamlico | gill | baltimore | neuse | banks | stacy II | marker | flip |
 |
Caretta caretta |
|
| THE STRANDING | This sea turtle was found
east of Cedar Island, NC, in a pound net.
Radiographs reveal a hook in the GI tract. Externally, the leader and heavy duty monofilament line extend from the mouth and wrap around the auxiliary region of the right front flipper. This entanglement has resulted in deep lacerations in the right corner of the mouth and around the right front flipper.  |
| THE TREATMENT | The trailing monofilament line was taped
to the carapace to prevent further entanglement.
  |
| UPDATE
NOV 3, 2001 |
This turtle was transported by car, about 120 miles,
to the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, on Friday, Nov 2.
The surgery was long, life threatening and challenging to the great staff
at the Vet School. The radiograph pinpointed the exact location of
the hook, deep in the esophagus.
The surprise it did not reveal was the twist to the hook, rendering it even more harmful for ingestion and removal. Removal of the hook was attempted under anesthesia using endoscopy and a length of PVC pipe with a smoothed end and a notch for engaging the hook. The embedded hook and its removal created a tear in the distal esophagus, approx. 6 cm long.. To the rescue was a stapler used in equine medicine. The stapler was inserted through an incision where the plastron meets the soft tissue. One incision for an endoscope and one for the stapler. 
15 staples were used to close the tear.
As this is an outpatient procedure, the turtle was administered pain medication, and then returned to the KBSTRRC. Thanks Bill. |
| UPDATE
MAY 20, 2002 WT 41.4 kg |
Thanks again to Bill and Heather for the transportation,
CedarII again traveled to the Vet School for a reexam via endoscopy to
determine if the tear had healed.
Cedar was again under anesthesia (2 mg of medetomidine and 200 mg of ketamine IV in the external jugular vein and was intubated before the endoscopy) The endoscopy was unremarkable. No scar or remaining staples could be seen. The turtle received 10 mg of atipamezole IM after the endoscopic exam. Back down I-40 again to the KBSTRRC. Pending final exam and blood results next week, Cedar is a candidate for summer release. |
| JUNE 5, 2002 | Released |
 |
|