What is it about?
Eye lesions are common in pinnipeds. It is difficult to examine the eye if an animal is squinting, or if anesthesia is needed. Local anesthetic blocks relax the muscles around the eye, which allow the eye to be examined and treated. This paper describes techniques developed for retrobulbar and auriculopalpebral blocks in the California sea lion.
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Why is it important?
This is the first paper that has standardized techniques for retrobulbar and auriculopalpebral nerve blocks, two anesthetic procedures that are common in humans and other species. Using these techniques will allow the clinician to evaluate and treat eye diseases in sea lions.
Perspectives
Local anesthetic blocks provide us with another tool in our clinical toolkit to help treat eye issues, which are very common in marine mammals. The blocks dilate the pupil, relieve pain, and help us to visualize the cornea and inside of the eye.
Dr Claire A Simeone
The Marine Mammal Center
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: DEVELOPMENT OF RETROBULBAR AND AURICULOPALPEBRAL NERVE BLOCKS IN CALIFORNIA SEA LIONS (ZALOPHUS CALIFORNIANUS), Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, March 2016, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians,
DOI: 10.1638/2015-0035.1.
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