Surgical procedure:
1.
The hamster was gassed with Isoflurane in a
small container for approximately 10 seconds until its body was limp.
2.
First we must incise 4mm of the lateral canthus
so that we can have adequate exposure of the internal structure of the eye
3.
Then we can clamp the optic nerve stalk with the
smallest forceps, however it is not possible to ligate the stalk because it is
way too small.
4.
Next, is to incise the optic nerve stalk. Some
bleeding may be expected after the incision however it will clot soon because
the vessels are tiny.
5.
Then, we have to trim the upper and lower
eyelids so that the skin will heal when opposed together. If these eyelids were
not cut then the skin will not close even when stitched together.
6.
Lastly is to close up the wound using 6/0
absorbable suture.
7.
The whole eye enucleation procedure should take
less than 1 minute because the anaesthetic effect wears off very fast in small
animals especially when using gas anaesthesia.
8.
Clean the external of the wound and the
surrounding fur that is stained.
9.
It is not possible to put E-collar on a hamster.
So the best way to avoid self inflicted injury is to administer analgesic drug.
10.
This is because analgesic will provide comfort
and the animal won’t feel irritated and pain. Thus, it will not scratch its
eye.
NB: There is a simplified illustration of the procedure below.
Differences:
1.
No 360˚ paralimbal incision to remove eyeball
from its socket.
2.
There is no ligation of the optic stalk below
the clamp.
3.
Lots of bleeding controlled by stitching of
eyelid.
4.
Excision of upper and lower eyelid to create
fresh wound.
5.
Excision of extraocular muscle attachment.
6. Removal of the third eyelid or nictitans membrane
6. Removal of the third eyelid or nictitans membrane
Prepared by
Erica chai Hui Ling
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