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An exploratory laparoscopy was performed and liver and mesenteric lymphnode biopsies taken in this grey seal pup, as part of investigations during an outbreak of disease in a group of seals in a well maintained rehabilitation centre in Scotland. Due to the thick blubber layer, even in this young seal, access was with a verres needle used for insufflation, and blind placement of a primary 5mm cannula with a guarded cutting trocar. An open approach would have been difficult. This approach had previously been validated in more than 10 seals at post-mortem, which were also used for familiarisation with normal abdominal anatomy before this laparoscopy. www.veterinarylaparoscopy.com

Posted by Zoological Medicine, 7 months ago