Duck with subcut emphysema

Re: Duck with subcut emphysema

Marie Kubiak — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:11:15 GMT

You will need to create drainage holes in the skin with additional trauma to the incision edges to slow healing and allow repair of the damaged air sac lining before the skin heals. If skin heals faster then the pressure build up under the skin prevents air sac closure.

Please don't use local anaesthetic in a duck without carefully evaluating need and exact dose! Birds are exquisitely sensitive to the toxic effects of local and cardiac arryhthmias and death are not uncommon when it is used. GA with analgesia (0.2mg/kg meloxicam +/or 1mg/kg butorphanol) is a much safer alternative.

I would use a propofol GA (to effect via medial tarsal vein), intubate and maintain on just O2 (I also have heard stories of cautery, iso and fire so am a little cautious!) to do this. If you are really not keen to use cautery directly you can heat up a metal probe and then apply it to the incisions to limit fire risk! I've done quite a few though and have yet to flambee a bird :)

Re: Duck with subcut emphysema

Peter Ding — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:21:11 GMT

Use local, inverted L block. Make the holes fairly high up, Tent and small snip to remove small elipse. Simples. Keep out of water.

A disposable restraint tube made from the top (thigh) section of a pair of ladies tights might prove useful. Make a hole over where you are going to incise.

Re: Duck with subcut emphysema

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:13:48 GMT

Topical local and pop it with a scalpel blade? I wouldn't GA it for the reasons stated above!