The usual surgical technique for accessing the coelomic cavity of chelonians through the horny shields and bone plates of plastron by using a Dremel machine (plastron osteotomy) is considered slow, traumatic, and very painful for the patient. In this paper a technique of coelioscopic-assisted prefemoral oophorectomy is described in red-eared slider. The time spent on accessing the coelomic cavity, removal of the follicles and ovaries, and anesthetic recovery was markedly decreased (three hours less) in comparison with the traditional technique. The rapid return of the patient to normal activity demonstrates an important reduction in pain at post-surgical recovery. The extra cost resulting of the use of endoscopy and a specialized veterinarian service is clearly justified by the positive results described above.
Chelonians; turtles; red-eared slider; surgery; endoscopy
