Minimally Invasive Surgery Techniques

Laparoscopic appendectomy to remove a metallic foreign body in a wild Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) undergoing rehabilitation

“…The skin and hair over the abdomen was cleaned and then scrubbed with 10% povidone‐iodine (Povidone‐Iodine, Kimiafarma). This method has been successfully utilised in other wildlife species …”

“…There is a trend to reduce laparoscopic instrument diameters, with 3‐mm instruments particularly favoured in human paediatric surgery, and well suited to use in wildlife. The benefits, risks and applications of minimally invasive surgery in wildlife have been previously reviewed …”

Laparoscopic repair of an umbilical hernia in a Western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) rescued in Sierra Leone

“…Laparoscopic surgery was first reported in chimpanzees in the 1970s, but there have been few published reports since. Human and veterinary minimally invasive surgical instrumentation and techniques have evolved considerably since then . There is only a single published case report of a hernia repair in a chimpanzee; an open surgical repair of a inguinal hernia in a captive chimpanzee infant…”

“…Laparoscopic surgery in wildlife species holds numerous advantages. These include rapid recovery, limited post‐operative pain, low risk of infection and low rates of dehiscence . It is particularly beneficial in intelligent dextrous primate species, such as chimpanzees, that may interfere with surgical wounds .…”

“…These include rapid recovery, limited post‐operative pain, low risk of infection and low rates of dehiscence . It is particularly beneficial in intelligent dextrous primate species, such as chimpanzees, that may interfere with surgical wounds . It further minimises post‐operative recovery time away from the social group, helping limit hierarchy disruption and subsequent fighting …”