AVA Conference Adelaide 2016

Avian soft tissue surgery is an important skill for any avian practitioner. While standard surgical techniques – attention to haemostasis, gentle tissue handling, good suture selection – apply, birds have a slightly different skin structure that requires some specific changes. Certain groups of birds, such as parrots, have particular foibles that need to be considered post-surgically as well. Knowledge of the appropriate anatomy is imperative.
Common soft tissue surgery procedures include:
• laceration repairs
• crop burn fistulae repair
• ingluviotomy for foreign bodies or access to more distal gastrointestinal sites
• pododermatitis debridement and repair
• superficial lump removals
• digit amputations
• and cloacal prolapse.
Entry procedures for exploratory coeliotomy will be discussed, but not more complex procedures. Analgesia, including local anaesthesia will be briefly covered