Uber the pastel BP hatchling's surgery GRAPHIC!!!

This thread contains pictures of surgery. If you are squeemish, please back out of the thread and feel free to PM me to ask about the surgery. Everyone else feel free to leave comments here.

"Uber" is the single hatchling from Genevieve, the pastel male with extreme blushing. HIs story and pics are here:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...tchling-pastel

Uber had a retained yolk, or a "hard belly"/"hard yolk". Unlike many hard yolk cases, Uber's was twice the width of his body and therefor, he could not pass it. I hoped at first that he would continue to absorb it, or it would break down and be absorbed. No such luck.

I talked to my vet a bit, talked to one of the other vets a bit, and finally the main vet said he would be willing to do surgery. We looked up the very few cases he could find, and found a few success stories(2, with another 1 ending with a dead hatchling from the attending vet "accidentally" cutting the major veins without noticing??).

Uber, weighing a teeny 42grams at hatching, had lost a great deal of weight in the last two weeks. Up to the last two weeks, he was looking "the same" so I was still offering tiny meals, which he refused. He was active throughout, drinking and climbing about his bin with great energy.

At 48 days old, Uber underwent actual surgery to remove the yolk. Following are the pictures of the procedure.

First, the vet tried the anesthesia gas. Figuring Uber was so very small, we put him into the mask itself, hoping he would inhale enough. (Gas is not usually reccomended for reptiles as they breathe SO slow that it takes forever to work).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...y/53d5aded.jpg

After about 30+ minutes of gas, the tech and I were closer to being asleep. After a larger dose, Uber seemed to get extremely sleepy, although he was patently not unconscious yet. We switched to a custom made(read: custom cobbled together that day) snake hatchling sized anesthesia mask. I had to hold the tubing in place and occasionally gently hold Uber's head to it, although he was almost asleep.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...y/f4cfc2f5.jpg

Uber SEEMED asleep, until poked, so the vet eventually gave him an injected anesthesia drug which knowked him down nearly instantly. Then he was restrained for surgery. Not having paws to tie apart to stabalize the animal, they taped him to a clipboard. Yes... I made sure the tape wasn't too sticky.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...y/bc165be5.jpg

Incision made, you can already see the retained yolk.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...y/acd03d3b.jpg

Yolk being removed,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...y/97f23806.jpg

Healthy looking innards(yes, that's the technical term, give me a break, it's been a LONG couple days)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...y/72b5e5d7.jpg

Stitching up the incision.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...y/918bfe59.jpg

Post-op, covered with a towel to keep the warmth from the heated surgical table, Uber is breathing oxygen.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...y/20753a5a.jpg

I got to stand there as the 'snake handler' and hold the mask on Uber's head. Then I stood there for well over a hour and a half waiting for Uber to wake up. Finally the vet checked up on how long it should take for a reptile to wake up and found it can take over 22 hours! So I brought Uber home to a warm clean bin to rest.

We could only watch for a heartbeat by seeing the actual 'lub lub' movements under his scales in the right spot. Breathing was so low and slow that it was undetectable much of the time.

Since this all finished up yesterday afternoon, I've been checking on Uber in his bin, and he's still not awake. He IS still breathing(more) and his heart is beating, and as of THIS evening, he has moved a tiny bit. He's still pretty much unconscious acting though, so he's definitely not out of the woods yet.

Once he wakes up, we still have to try to get food into him too. His first meal(after a few days to recover) will be a tube-fed slurry, rather than asking him to actually eat a prey item.

Before anyone asks, no, you do NOT want to know how much it cost me for the surgery. I would NEVER expect someone else to get surgery on a "$50 hatchling". It's something I chose to do for Uber, as I really feel he's special. Sometimes we do get attached to a baby that isn't slated to make it, and we go as far as we need to in order to give them the best chance of survival. It's not rational, it's emotional. I know. I don't care. If Uber does die, then I'll have the most expensive shoestring ever, but I still won't regret giving him every chance to make it.

I won't feel at all like anyone else should do the same. In fact, I'd be the first to say "It's not economical to do surgery on a hatchling." Don't ever expect to see me say "Well, *I* took my hatchling to surgery!" as a prod for someone else to do the same. Basic vet care is required.... specialty exotics surgery on a baby that has a miniscule chance of surviving? Not so much.

At any rate, I thought surgery on a 'hard belly' hatchling might be interesting to some folks, so here's the thread! Feel free to comment. I'll put updates on how Uber does(or doesn't do).

Wow, that looks like such a simple procedure (complications and anesthesia aside)..it's crazy! I commend you on this, and I understand not everyone would decide to do this..but he's a gorgeous snake. I'm sending the best vibes that he makes it!

Thank you for sharing, you know I've been following his story on FB

Wow, hope the guy comes through okay. Definitly interesintg. Stoo/sat through many dog and cat surgeries. A baby snake now that is something new, and cool. Sending good wake up mojo to him.

Very interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing! I hope uber pulls through.

sent from my EVO

awww.. come on Uber!!!! Glad to hear he is doing ok thus far..

What an amazing story!
Be strong little Uber!
Please keep us updated on his recovery!

Wow that is awesome that your giving Uber a fighting chance :gj:

I salute you on your effort :salute: and I wish Uber the Best

Thank you for sharing this. very cool to see the process.

That is extremely commendable that ur givin him a fighting chance. Props to u brother. Best of wishes to u and little uber

Wow - what an amazing story! I appreciate your documenting it and sharing with us!

Dude, wow. Keep us updated on how he's doing, please?

Hope he makes it.

My thoughts are with you and Uber.
Definitely keep us updated. :)

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

Crossing my fingers for Uber! I hope he pulls through and lives a long and happy life:rolleye2:

Wow, thanks for sharing such an amazing story. My thoughts are with you and Uber. He's a very lucky little snake to have you. :)

Keeping our fingers crossed for you! I admire your dedication.

Uber is finally responding a LITTLE bit to touch. This is now... 29 hours after anesthesia. Thank you to everyone for the good thoughts. I will be giving updates!

GO little Uber GO!! We are praying for the little guy. Thanks for sharing. Some really good info.

Wow - what an amazing story! I appreciate your documenting it and sharing with us!

Wow he's so tiny!! :O Hope he pulls thru and you're able to get some food in him soon.

I hope he pulls through fine and lives a long health life. It's amazing that you would go this far for him, he has a very speical mom. :)

Wow great story and psyched to hear he is responsive. This story needs to be in Reptiles magazine or something. I commend you on your valiant effort. We need more people like you in the world.

please keep the news flowing. hang in there little guy!

That is truly amazing, and I wish more people were like you. Glad the news is getting better for you, and I hope he will continue to make a full recovery. :gj::gj:

I admire you efforts and love for little Uber! Praying for him!

Thank you for posting that I found it wonderfully informative and enjoyable to see how is was done thanks again
Robie

Amazing story I wish Uber a speedy recovery!!:happycry:

I have subscribed to this thread, I want to hear every little thing that happens as he recovers.

By the way, I'd do the exact same thing for a "$50 hatchling" if it meant I had to put a lien on my car to do it!

I am sending him all the best healing thoughts I can.

Gale

BIG kudos for all the effort you've put in giving him a chance at life.

Good luck Uber, keep on fighting little guy!!!

Go Uber! Go Uber! Go Uber!

Please update soon! I hope he's still recovering well.

Fantastic story! :) I adore the fact that you gave him this chance at life. I treat my snakes with as much care as any other animal I keep. I'd do the same for a "$50 hatchling". These are the ones that end up becoming the "favorites" of the collection. :gj:

By the way, he is absolutely gorgeous! Love the black back. I'd kill for a cute little pastel like him and one with such an amazing story, at that.

This morning Uber can right himself (slowly) when turned over and moves his head away from touch. I've been spraying him down and this afternoon when I get home from work, I'll try to give him water if he doesn't appear to be able to move enough to drink on his own.

Thanks everyone! More updates as events warrent!

Yay!! So glad he's responsive and moving, even if very slowly. We are still rooting for him. Go Uber!!

Thanks for sharring and I hope you and Uber all the best!

Wow, what an amazing journey you two have been on - I will anxiously await updates on Uber!!!

Go Uber!!!!:banana::banana::banana:

Bless his little heart. I hope he makes a fast and uneventful recovery for you. Thanks for the pictures, very interesting!

Aye glad to hear he is starting to come around and move a little Please keep us informed on his progress:gj:
Robie

Holy crap I think I was laughing and crying at the same time. You and uber smeared my mascara. Darn you. It's really a sweet story, I do love to see folks going the extra mile. Even if it's not affordable. I'd do The same.
I hope uber keeps on pulling through. Kudos to you and your brave vet. 


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So happy to hear he's doing well. I'll join everyone is saying that I'm rooting for Uber, and I'll be anxiously awaiting updates. :)

This is a great story! I am soooooooooo glad that little Uber is doing well. He sure is a little cutie and a big thank to you for getting him the care that he needed. Please keep us updated on his progress.

This afternoon's update: Uber is awake and acting pretty alert now. I tube fed him some water anyway, then put a small dish of water into his bin(until he was awake I didn't want him drowing). If all looks well in the next couple days I will tube feed him some slurry to try to get some energy into him.

I realized I don't think I posted this picture of the Xray, so here's the Xray of Uber a few days before his surgery. You can see exactly how HUGE the mass was compared to his body.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...s/IMG_6770.jpg

Alright Uber! I knew he would come around.

Once he gets some food in him he will be feeling a whole lot better.

With a name like Uber can he possibly lose?!?!?! Rootin for the little guy.

What a beautiful snake I hope everything keeps improving for you

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

O happy he is responding and waking up!

I am UBER excited to see that he is improving!!!!

I've been following this ever since you posted! Not once did it cross my mind that it wasn't worth the money to save your ball python!
A pet is a pet, and you get major respect points from me for doing all this!

Go Uber, go!

The afternoon update:

Uber is pretty responsive. I tube fed him some chicken baby food(no additives, etc) mixed with some water. He was perky enough to fight me a bit. He's already looking a bit better, and hopefully he'll continue to improve.

I'll probably tube feed him a couple times a week for a while so he won't be constricting on any prey items. He's still very weak so I'm going to err on the side of caution. The next slurry will have some calcium/vitamen supplement added to it.

He also passed some urates!!! WHOO!

Thank you to everyone who has shown such kindness. Uber would thank you too, but he's too busy feeling sorry for himself. I told him the scar would be unnoticable even for bikini season, but you know pastels. So vain.

I'll get some pictures this weekend if he continues to look perky.

Wow, that is insane! I'm always shocked when reptiles make it through just the gas/anesthesia part of a surgery. I hope he makes it after all that trouble! He's a trooper!