Surgical management of traumatic evisceration of abdominal contents in a common cobra

Abstract

A clinical case of common cobra (Naja Naja) was presented with a history of laceration at ventral region and evisceration of abdominal content due to injury during excavation. The snake was anaesthetized with inj. Midazolam HCl @ 1 mg/kg i/m and Ketamine HCl @ 20 mg /kg i/m cranial half of its body. Protruded organs (intestine, mesentery and gall bladder) were lavaged with acriflavine diluted in lukewarm normal saline. Organs were carefully repositioned in abdominal cavity. The musculature was sutured with polyglactin 910 No. 2-0 in simple interrupted pattern. The skin was closed with nylon No. 2-0 in simple interrupted pattern. After treatment snake was handed over to local rescue team. However, snake died after 3 days. Post-mortem examination revealed that there was extensive injury of all major internal organs.