Modified eye evisceration in a tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba)

Background: An adult owl was presented with an injury to the right eye that rendered it blind in that eye. The left eye was normal. Removal of the right eye was recommended and a modified eye evisceration was performed. No complications were observed during or after surgery. The objective of this paper is to describe the modified eye evisceration technique that was successfully used in a tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba). Case: An adult owl was presented with an injury to the right eye that rendered it blind in that eye. Two previous surgical treatments have been carried out but have not been successful. Using a portable slit-lamp (Kowa SL-15®), both eyes were examined. The left eye was normal. Upon ophthalmic examination of the right eye, the owl demonstrated blepharospasm and large central corneal ulcer. Removal of the right eye was recommended. The bird received midazolam hydrochloride [Dormire® - 1 mg/kg, IM] and ketamine hydrochloride [Ketamina® - 5 mg/kg IM] as pre-anesthetic medications. Subsequently, the bird was anesthetized with isoflurane (Isoforine®) by facemask for induction, and then maintained with isoflurane vaporized in 100% oxygen through an endotracheal tube. With the aid of a surgical microscope and microsurgery materials, a modified eye evisceration was performed. Post-operatively, the owl received meloxicam [Maxicam® - 0.5 mg/kg, IM] and tramadol hydrochloride [Cronidor® - 15 mg/kg, orally for 4 days]. The day after surgery, the owl was comfortable and its usual appetite was regained. The patient remained hospitalized for 3 weeks and was evaluated daily. The skin sutures were removed 10 days after the surgical procedure and the surgical wound had healed normally. The patient was reintroduced into the wild after 2 months. During the 6 months post-release, the bird was evaluated once a month, and no complications were observed. Discussion: Severe eye trauma and complicated corneal ulcers are common causes of eyeball removal in birds. In birds, there is a high risk of complications during enucleation. The fragility of the orbital bones makes them susceptible to trauma during the surgery. Evisceration involves the removal of the inner contents of the eye while leaving the cornea and the sclera intact. In the current case, evisceration was chosen because the eye was blind, and maintaining a blind eye would be a source of pain and infection. In the modified evisceration technique, the risk of complications is minimal compared to enucleation, mainly because surgical manipulation is minimal. In our case, the total surgery time was 20 min. Another complication reported after enucleation in birds is the possibility of disfiguring the bird because the removal of the globe disturbs the natural head balance. To avoid these complications, the use of an intraocular prosthesis after evisceration in birds has been performed. However, owls have a tubular-shaped globe with scleral ossicles. These factors could hinder or even prevent the accommodation of a cylindrical silicone prosthesis. In the present case, an intraocular prosthesis implant was never considered due to the unavailability of the prosthesis and to avoid the risk of postoperative complications that have been reported from the literature in dogs. In this case, the owl recovered well from anesthesia without complications, and no postoperative hemorrhage was observed. No signs of pain were observed during the postoperative period and the owl had already shown an appetite and fed on the first postoperative day. The previously published reports using the modified evisceration technique also demonstrated an absence of pain signs during the postoperative period.(AU)

Diagnóstico ultrassonográfico de corpo estranho ocular em cão / Ultrasonographic diagnosis of strange eye body in dog

Traumatismos causados com espinho de porco espinho são comuns em cães. Entretanto, estes espinhos não são inertes podendo carrear bactérias e outros micro-organismos. A indicação frente à essa situação é a remoção de todo o material sempre que possível. Ultrassonografia, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética possuem valor significativo no diagnóstico e localização de corpos estranhos não visíveis no exame físico. O objetivo deste relato de caso é descrever a presença de um corpo estranho linear na região intraocular de um cão macho, três anos de idade, sem raça definida. O animal deu entrada no serviço clínico de um Hospital Veterinário com apatia e histórico de contato com porco espinho há trinta dias. Observou-se secreção ocular e olhos recobertos pela terceira pálpebra. Nesta ocasião, foram retirados espinhos de ouriço na cavidade oral e o animal foi liberado. Entretanto, o paciente retornou 40 dias com piora do quadro oftalmológico. Foi realizado exame ultrassonográfico transpalpebral que detectou uma estrutura linear hiperecoica medindo aproximadamente 1,47cm com sobra acústica evidente e conteúdo anormal de ecogenicidade mista na câmara vítrea. Encaminhado para enucleação transpalpebral que possibilitou confirmar o diagnóstico e identificar o objeto. Após a remoção cirúrgica o paciente apresentou melhora clínica significativa e recebeu alta médica em 14 dias.

Trauma caused by porcupine thorns is common in dogs. However, these spines are not inert and can carry bacteria and other microorganisms. The advice given this situation is the removal of all material whenever possible. Ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance have significant value in the diagnosis and localization of foreign bodies not visible on physical examination. The purpose of this case report is to describe the presence of a linear foreign body in the intraocular region of a three year old, male dog, of mixed breed. The animal was admitted to the clinical service of a Veterinary Hospital with apathy and a history of contact with a porcupine within thirty days. Eye discharge and eyes covered by the third eyelid were observed. On this occasion, hedgehog spines were removed in the oral cavity and the animal was released. However, the patient returned 40 days later with worsening of the ophthalmic condition. A transpalpebral ultrasound examination was performed, which detected a hyperechoic linear structure measuring approximately 1.47cm with evident acoustic leftovers and abnormal mixed echogenicity content in the vitreous chamber. The dog was referred for transpalpebral enucleation, which made it possible to confirm the diagnosis and identify the object. After surgical removal, the patient showed significant clinical improvement and was discharged within 14 days.

Diagnóstico ultrassonográfico de corpo estranho ocular em cão / Ultrasonographic diagnosis of strange eye body in dog

Traumatismos causados com espinho de porco espinho são comuns em cães. Entretanto, estes espinhos não são inertes podendo carrear bactérias e outros micro-organismos. A indicação frente à essa situação é a remoção de todo o material sempre que possível. Ultrassonografia, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética possuem valor significativo no diagnóstico e localização de corpos estranhos não visíveis no exame físico. O objetivo deste relato de caso é descrever a presença de um corpo estranho linear na região intraocular de um cão macho, três anos de idade, sem raça definida. O animal deu entrada no serviço clínico de um Hospital Veterinário com apatia e histórico de contato com porco espinho há trinta dias. Observou-se secreção ocular e olhos recobertos pela terceira pálpebra. Nesta ocasião, foram retirados espinhos de ouriço na cavidade oral e o animal foi liberado. Entretanto, o paciente retornou 40 dias com piora do quadro oftalmológico. Foi realizado exame ultrassonográfico transpalpebral que detectou uma estrutura linear hiperecoica medindo aproximadamente 1,47cm com sobra acústica evidente e conteúdo anormal de ecogenicidade mista na câmara vítrea. Encaminhado para enucleação transpalpebral que possibilitou confirmar o diagnóstico e identificar o objeto. Após a remoção cirúrgica o paciente apresentou melhora clínica significativa e recebeu alta médica em 14 dias.(AU)

Trauma caused by porcupine thorns is common in dogs. However, these spines are not inert and can carry bacteria and other microorganisms. The advice given this situation is the removal of all material whenever possible. Ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance have significant value in the diagnosis and localization of foreign bodies not visible on physical examination. The purpose of this case report is to describe the presence of a linear foreign body in the intraocular region of a three year old, male dog, of mixed breed. The animal was admitted to the clinical service of a Veterinary Hospital with apathy and a history of contact with a porcupine within thirty days. Eye discharge and eyes covered by the third eyelid were observed. On this occasion, hedgehog spines were removed in the oral cavity and the animal was released. However, the patient returned 40 days later with worsening of the ophthalmic condition. A transpalpebral ultrasound examination was performed, which detected a hyperechoic linear structure measuring approximately 1.47cm with evident acoustic leftovers and abnormal mixed echogenicity content in the vitreous chamber. The dog was referred for transpalpebral enucleation, which made it possible to confirm the diagnosis and identify the object. After surgical removal, the patient showed significant clinical improvement and was discharged within 14 days.(AU)