Egg peritonitis treatment
A hen presented with a history of reluctance to walk, poor appetite, laboured breathing, a typical ‘penguin stance’ and on examination had marked coelomic distension. Surgery was advised. The hen was starved preoperatively to avoid crop content regurgitation during general anaesthesia.
The hen was gently supported by a nurse and pre-oxygenated, via face mask, for a couple of minutes. Isoflurane at a concentration of 2% was then administered via face mask prior to intubation with a rubber 2.0 uncuffed endotracheal tube. When sufficiently anaesthetised the hen was positioned in dorsal recumbency with the neck and head slightly raised and the legs extended caudally. The surgical area was plucked and surgically prepared with Hibiscrub.
Preparation of surgical area, ©Marcella Perversi
A midline abdominal incision was performed through dermis and muscle layers.
Midline abdominal incision, ©Marcella Perversi
Midline abdominal incision, ©Marcella Perversi
Midline abdominal incision, ©Marcella Perversi
Midline abdominal incision, ©Marcella Perversi
Midline abdominal incision, ©Marcella Perversi
A very enlarged uterus was exteriorised; soft shelled eggs were manually removed from a tear in the uterus. A large volume of egg material and soft-shelled eggs were gently removed from the uterus, avoiding contamination of the peritoneum and air sacs. This particular hen had approximately 1.5kg of egg material removed from its coelomic cavity.
A salpingohysterectomy was then performed. The ovary was not removed as this is a very difficult procedure and carries a high risk of severe haemorrhage. The muscular layer and dermis are sutured with a simple interrupted pattern using 2/0, 3 metrics in two different layers. Images below were taken from a different procedure for illustration.
Midline abdominal incision, ©Richard Jones
Midline abdominal incision, ©Richard Jones
A Deslorelin implant (Suprelorin) was used to prevent ovulation which accounts for the hen moulting. The hen made an uneventful recovery.
Post-operative recovery, ©Marcella Perversi
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