%0 Journal Article
%T Anaesthesia of three young grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) for fracture repair
%A Vilhelmiina Huuskonen
%A Lynne Hughes
%A Rachel Bennett
%J Irish Veterinary Journal
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/2046-0481-64-3
%X Pinnipeds are a group of marine mammals divided into three groups: Odobenids (walruses), Otariids (eared seals, including sea lions and fur seals) and Phocids (earless or true seals including the grey seal). Pinniped anaesthesia can be challenging due to the unique adaptations of these animals to underwater life, i.e. cardiovascular, respiratory and thermoregulatory adaptations [1-5]. In addition, seals are wild animals and therefore are difficult to handle, which makes administering safe and successful anaesthesia difficult. The Irish Seal Sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates injured seals found on the Irish coast; they are often brought to UCD Veterinary Hospital for diagnostic work and surgery. This case series describes the anaesthetic management of three seals presented with fractures.Details of the seals, anaesthetic drugs and monitoring are included in Table 1.The seals were manually restrained and pre-medicated with pethidine1 (2 mg.kg-1), midazolam2 (0.2-0.3 mg.kg-1) and atropine3 (0.02-0.04 mg.kg-1), intramuscularly (IM) into the post-scapular (case 1) or lumbar muscles (cases 2 and 3). When sedated, a 20 gauge intravenous (IV) catheter was placed in the palmar aspect of the front flipper. Anaesthesia was induced with an IV bolus of propofol4, and the airway was intubated with a cuffed endotracheal tube and the cuff inflated. Intubation was easy in all cases. Due to profuse salivation, case 1 received an additional dose of atropine (0.02 mg.kg-1) at the time of intubation. The endotracheal tubes were then connected to a circle breathing system and anaesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane5 (cases 1 and 2) or isoflurane6 (case 3) in 100% oxygen. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) was initiated immediately and continued throughout anaesthesia. Intravenous fluids (compound sodium lactate, CSL), supplemented with glucose as needed, were given throughout anaesthesia. In addition to CSL, a synthetic colloid (hetastarch) was administered to case 3
%U http://www.irishvetjournal.org/content/64/1/3