Anaesthetic management of a 10-month-old white rhinoceros (&lt;i&gt;Ceratotherium simum&lt;/i&gt;) calf for emergency exploratory celiotomy

Gareth E Zeiler,George F Stegmann

doi:10.4102/jsava.v83i1.939

Abstract

A 10-month-old, 580 kg, hand-reared white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) calf was presented for emergency exploratory celiotomy. Anaesthesia was safely induced with three successive intravenous (IV) boluses of diazepam (10 mg) and ketamine (100 mg) until the trachea could be intubated. Anaesthesia was adequately maintained with isoflurane-inoxygen (mean end-tidal isoflurane concentration of 1.1% ± 0.2%) on a circle anaesthetic machine with carbon dioxide absorption and an intravenous infusion of ketamine and medetomidine at a mean rate of 0.02 mg/kg/min and 0.02 µg/kg/min, respectively. Mean values recorded during anaesthesia and surgery were heart rate (56.9 ± 11 beats/min), mean arterial blood pressure (6.16 kPa ± 1.75 kPa), end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration (6.23 kPa ± 0.30 kPa). Abdominal gas distension contributed to hypoventilation that resulted in hypercapnoea, confirmed by arterial blood gas analysis (PaCO2 14.69 kPa), which required controlled ventilation for correction. Blood volume was maintained with the intravenous infusion of a balanced electrolyte solution at 10 mL/kg/h and blood pressure supported with a continuous infusion of dobutamine and phenylephrine. Duration of anaesthesia was 3.5 h. It was concluded that anaesthesia was safely induced in a compromised white rhinoceros calf with a combination of diazepam and ketamine. A constant-rate infusion of medetomidine and ketamine allowed for a reduction in the dose of isoflurane required during maintenance of anaesthesia and improved intra-operative blood pressure management.

Highlights

Rhinoceros poaching is increasing alarmingly in South Africa (Beech et al 2011), with many rhinoceros calves being left orphaned or killed
Flunixin meglumine was http://www.jsava.co.za given twice daily via the IV route for the three days, followed by meloxicam given twice daily by mouth for four days. Anaesthesia in this rhinoceros calf was induced with a combination of diazepam and ketamine and anaesthesia maintained with isoflurane in combination with a continuous rate infusion (CRI) of medetomidine and ketamine
The arterial line in the auricular artery was initially subjected to partial compression in dorsal recumbency as a result of the head compressing the ear on the foam mattress of the large animal surgical table. This could have contributed to the low blood pressure readings in the early stages of surgery but this was corrected by slight lateral tilting of the head with the aid of sand bags

Summary

Introduction

Rhinoceros poaching is increasing alarmingly in South Africa (Beech et al 2011), with many rhinoceros calves being left orphaned or killed. ’Noster‘, a 10-month-old, 580 kg, male, hand-reared, white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) was referred by a private practitioner for emergency abdominal surgery For two days it had been demonstrating clinical signs of equine-like colic, including partial anorexia, flank watching, pawing the ground, rolling and not passing faeces. Phenylephrine (dose used 10 mg; phenylephrine injection, 10 mg/mL; B.P, Abbott) was added to the balanced electrolyte solution infusion bag (with a final dilution of 33 μg/mL) This increased heart rate from 50 to 65 beats/min and MAP from 5.60 kPa to 8.00 kPa. The CRI of ketamine and medetomidine was decreased to 60 mL/h (i.e. ketamine at 0.5 mg/kg/h and medetomidine at 0.05 μg/kg/h) within 45 min after the infusion was started. After 40 min, the calf moved into sternal recumbency and maintained this position for five hours before attempting to stand He accepted milkbottle feeding for the first two days post surgery and began eating solids on the third day. Flunixin meglumine (dose used 1.1 mg/kg; Finadyne; Schering-Plough AH) was http://www.jsava.co.za given twice daily via the IV route for the three days, followed by meloxicam (dose used 0.2 mg/kg; Metacam; Ingelheim) given twice daily by mouth for four days

Discussion

Conclusion