Surgical Managemet of Dystocia in Snakes and Lizards

Abstract

Dystocia is one of the most common disorders in reptiles. Regardless of the cause of this reproductive tract disorder, in most of the cases, surgery is the option of treatment. In female chameleons this is a common disorder mostly due to the environmental conditions and very young age of reproduction.Four female reptiles, three chameleons (Chamaeleo caliptratus) and a snake (Orthriophis taeniurus taeniurus) were presented to our clinic and diagnosed with dystocia. After the females were anesthetized using Butorphanol, Propofol and Isoflurane, coeliotomy was performed. After exploration of the coelom ovariosalpingotomy through a paramedian coeliotomy was performed in the case of the female chameleons and salpingotomy with eggs extraction in the case of the female snake, through a latero-costal coeliotomy. The salpinx was closed using a continous suture and a Cushing continous pattern (monofilament absorbable 4.0) and the coelom, in all cases, using 5.0 monofilament absorbable material. The skin was closed in an everted pattern using 4.0 monofilament nonabsorbable material. All four animals recovered well after surgery and received postoperative treatment, antibiotics (Cefuroxime, 20 mg/kg) for 10 to 20 days and analgesia using Meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg, every 48 hours). The suture material was removed 1 month after the surgical procedures.