engleski

Anaesthetic Management of Unilateral Adrenalectomy in a Eastern Quoll (Dasyurius viverrinus) - Case Report

Quolls are carnivorous marsupials and popular zoo-animals. A four-year-old female eastern quoll weighing 0.98 kg was presented with a history of lethargy, weight loss and inappetence lasting for five days. Abdominal radiography noted signs of ileus, which was confirmed by contrast radiography the following day. Exploratory celiotomy was undertaken. The quoll was premedicated with an intramuscular injection of medetomidine 0.025 mg/kg, ketamine 5 mg/kg, butorphanol 0.1 mg/kg and midazolam 0.3 mg/kg. General anaesthesia was induced by propofol 3 mg/kg, intravenously given to facilitate endotracheal intubation. The animal was intubated with a 3.5 mm internal diameter cuffed tube. Anaesthesia was maintained with 2% sevoflurane in a mixture of oxygen and air. During surgery, hydration was maintained with an intravenous infusion of Lactated ringer solution 10 ml/kg/h. Anaesthesia monitoring included electrocardiography, pulse oximetry, capnography and measurement of oesophageal temperature and noninvasive blood pressure. During the operation the quoll was normotensive with short periods of hypertension. Intra abdominal inspection revealed no signs of intestine pathology, however left adrenal enlargement was identified. Left adrenalectomy was performed. The anaesthesia recovery was quick and uneventful. The quoll was placed in a cage and heated with a conductive heater. The next day, a decreased appetite was noted and feeding was supplemented with Emeraid Critical care food for Carnivores. Postoperative analgesia was provided using meloxicam 0.1 mg/kg and continued for three days after surgery. From the third day the follow up was unremarkable. Histopathological analysis defined the resected adrenal mass as adrenal hyperplasia. This is the first report of anaesthesia in a quoll that underwent adrenal gland surgery. Anaesthesia of most dasyurids includes tiletamine/zolazepam, but recovery can be quite long. This report presents a suitable anaesthesia combination with rapid recovery.

anaesthesia, qoull, (Dasyurius viverrinus), adrenalectomy

nije evidentirano