You might remember our large Lop-Eared rabbit that Doc saw last week. Bun-Bun had been brought in with owners concerns over her not eating well. This week Bun-Bun was back with a pinna problem. Her right pinna (the large bunny ear flap) had severe swelling at the top that was cutting off circulation to the ear pinnas tip. This swelling and lack of circulation had caused the tip of the right pinna to blacken and die. The cause of this condition was non-determinant...either trauma of some sort to the pinna, or a case of vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels). In order to save the remaining healthy part of Bun-Buns loppy right pinna, Doc elected to remove the necrotic (dead) portion which he did yesterday. Our three surgical photos will take you through Docs surgery on Bun-Buns ear. Photo1: A. Bub-Buns super sized loppy ear. B-C. You can see the swelling and the dead tissue at the pinna tip. It is hard and beginning to curl D-E. Once our Ark Techs shaved the entire pinna, you can see the extent of the damage Doc needs to remove. Photo 2: A. The entire pinna of Bun-Buns right ear is scrubbed and treated with a Betadine surgical solution. Bun-Buns vitals are being monitored, IV catheter fluids are running and she has been placed under anesthesia via a trache-tube. B. Doc begins the surgery to remove the necrotic tissue and then reconstruct the shape of the ear flap, pinna. C-D. Doc is striving to maintain a natural shape to the remaining healthy pinna tissue. It is never just a cut with no concern for aesthetics with Doc. E. This is the removed dead tip of Bun-Buns right ear. Photo 3: A. Once the desired shape is achieved and healthy tissue is present, Doc begins to suture the edge, or ear margins. It is a misconception many have that there is little blood in the pinna and that it is primarily cartilage. This is not the case and there are numerous veins running through the ear flaps, each needing to be sealed B-D. Doc uses a simple continues suturing technique (think whip-stitch) to secure the open edges around the new pinna margins. E. Bun-Buns ear is then treated with a Betadine ointment and is wrapped. She is then returned to her kennel for recovery. This morning all is well and Bun-Bun is up, nose twitching eagerly and she is hungry! Bun-Buns ear will remain wrapped for a day or two and then she will come in after 10 days for suture removal and the new pinna unveiling!
Posted on: Thu, 03 Jul 2014 15:32:28 +0000
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