PMC2858931_01
Positioning of the giraffe postmortem and the laparoscopy stack for the left flank laparoscopic approach.
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fig1
Activation of the trigger fired and retracted a 1mm depth cutting blade, allowing controlled insertion of the cannula under visualisation through the abdominal muscles (Figure 1).
Laparoscopic examination of the caudal surface of the spleen and its attachment to the abdominal wall.
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fig2
Laparoscopy at this site only allowed access to the caudal aspect of the spleen (Figure 2); dorsal and caudal walls of the rumen, lateral left kidney (Figure 3), portions of the ileum and colon, and the peritoneum.
Dissection of the peritoneum to access the left kidney using 43 cm length 5 mm diameter bariatric instruments.
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fig3
Laparoscopy at this site only allowed access to the caudal aspect of the spleen (Figure 2); dorsal and caudal walls of the rumen, lateral left kidney (Figure 3), portions of the ileum and colon, and the peritoneum.
After laparoscopic exploration using standard 43 cm length bariatric laparoscopic instruments, a port site was enlarged to allow hand and arm access in a full length glove, while still maintaining a pneumoperitoneum.
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fig4
One port site was enlarged to allow the insertion of an arm in an arm-length glove, and the other port to allow the entry of a 95 cm length 12 mm width oesophageal foreign body forceps (Veterinary Instrumentation, Sheffield), but these resulted in no better visualisation or organ assess than with the orthodox 5 mm 43 cm bariatric instruments (Figure 4).
The initial postmortem examination approach consisted of removing the overlying abdominal and thoracic walls to validate the organ positions seen on laparoscopy. Note the wide flat ribs that may be thoracoscopy difficult by severely limiting the ability to manipulate the endoscope.
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fig5
A full postmortem examination immediately following laparoscopy demonstrated no gross anatomic abnormalities and allowed proofing of the anatomic placements of the organs seen (Figure 5).