The Use of Prefemoral Endoscope-Assisted Surgery and Transplastron Coeliotomy in Chelonian Reproductive Disorders

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Tortoises and turtles (chelonians) are routinely presented in veterinary practice because of their reproductive disorders. Although egg binding in chelonians can often be resolved with conventional therapy, the diagnosis and treatment of complicated cases of egg binding and various other disorders of the reproductive tract in chelonians often require a more advanced therapeutic approach. If surgical intervention is required, endoscope-assisted techniques comprise the least invasive and thus preferred surgical approach. In cases where the use of endoscope-assisted procedures is not feasible, the reproductive tract needs to be accessed through the plastron (transplastron coeliotomy). The present report describes the diagnostic and surgical approach applied in seven cases of female chelonians with reproductive disorders. The therapeutic efficacy largely relies on the choice of minimally invasive endoscope-assisted surgery versus transplastron coeliotomy. ABSTRACT: Throughout the last decades, the increased popularity of the keeping of reptiles has led to a better understanding of the captive needs of a wide variety of species. Although this is reflected by the successful captive reproduction in many of those species, reproductive disorders such as preovulatory follicular stasis, postovulatory dystocia, secondary yolk coelomitis, and prolapse of the oviduct and male copulatory organ are commonly encountered in veterinary practice. In comparison to squamates, chelonians with postovulatory dystocia seem to be more responsive to oxytocin treatment, even in cases of chronic dystocia. There are various conditions, however, that necessitate the use of surgical procedures for the treatment of dystocia and other reproductive disorders in chelonians. Although restrictions may be encountered, the endoscope-assisted prefemoral approach is the least invasive and thus preferred technique instead of the ventral transplastron coeliotomy. The present report describes the diagnostic and surgical approach applied in seven cases of female chelonians with reproductive disorders. The therapeutic efficacy largely relied on the choice of minimally invasive endoscope-assisted surgery versus transplastron coeliotomy that was primarily dictated by the involved species, etiology, and associated pathology.