Fume's Surgery

You can read a chronicle of Fume's recovery that was posted every few days to the members of the bird mailing lists, CAGTAG-L and EXOTIC-L, during that week. Or, you can read the short version below.

The surgery, on Tues, Feb. 20th, was a minor one--the removal of a small "wart" from the skin next to her lower beak. No one anticipated any problems, although the vet gave me the standard "problem with anesthesia, possibility of aspiration" speech.

The accident occurred after the surgery, when the vet was cauterizing the wound, which apparently bled more than expected. The cauterizing tool sparked, and it ignited the isofluorane gas under the mask. (Because the surgery was so close to the beak, the integrity of the mask's seal was compromised.)

Fume suffered burns over the left side of her face, and she may possibly have burns in her respiratory system, if she inhaled any of the burning gas before they got the mask off. It is unsure whether she will lose her left eye, although things look good there so far. Her cere was severely burned, as well.

Fume is currently at home, after several days of hospitalization. She gets ointment in her eye twice daily, and I have to keep her at 85F, but she seems to be recovering. Her weight, which dropped significantly after the surgery, has bounced back to almost normal. There is a possibility of secondary infection, and also that she suffered internal burns to her lungs, but she is acting as close to normal as can be expected. All I can do is hope and have faith in her will to live.

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Last revised 5/22/97