Intravenous total anesthesia in jabuti-piranga (Chelonoidis carbonaria) for foreign body removal

Abstract

The Piranga tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria), a species of chelonian, has anatomical and physiological particularities that make anesthesia a challenging procedure. Added to this, there are few case reports and safe anesthetic protocols to be followed for these patients. This article aimed to report the techniques and anesthetic procedures used in a specimen of Piranga tortoise, weighing 1.71 kg, underwent celiotomy to remove the foreign body. The patient was restless and with signs of pain, such as vocalization and penis exposure for 6 months. In the anamnesis, the presence of nasal secretion and respiratory noise, deformed hull and superficial lesions were observed. The radiographic examination showed a thin radiopaque structure, measuring 3.3 cm in length, consistent with the shape of a nail. Faced with this situation, we opted for surgical treatment. As pre-anesthetic medication, methadone (0.2 mg/kg; IM) and midazolam (0.5 mg/kg; IM) were used, and propofol (7 mg/kg IV) was administered. After muscle relaxation, the animal was intubated with a number 2.0 endotracheal tube (without cuff) and continuous infusion of propofol (0.05-0.6 mg/kg/minute). For analgesia, local blockade was performed with the splash block technique in the abdominal cavity with 0.5% bupivacaine without vasoconstrictor (0.7 ml) after surgical incision. The monitored physiological parameters, such as heart and respiratory rate, cloacal temperature, oximetry and capnography, remained stable throughout the entire procedure. At the end of anesthesia, flumazenil (0.05 ml IV), doxapram (0.5 ml IV) and adrenaline (0.05 ml IM) were administered. The anesthetic procedure was safe, successful and there were no intercurrences.