Pulmonoscopy of Snakes

Zdenek Knotek; Vladimir Jekl

doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2015.04.007

Pulmonoscopy of Snakes

Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2015 Sep;18(3):493-506. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2015.04.007. Epub 2015 Jun 25.

Authors

Zdenek Knotek¹, Vladimir Jekl²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, 1-3 Palackeho Street, Brno 612 42, Czech Republic. Electronic address: knotekz@vfu.cz.
² Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, 1-3 Palackeho Street, Brno 612 42, Czech Republic.

PMID: 26117518
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2015.04.007

Abstract

Pulmonoscopy is a practical diagnostic tool for investigating respiratory diseases in snakes. Two different approaches exist for pulmonoscopy, tracheal and transcutaneous. The access to the proximal or distal lung is limited by the length and diameter of the endoscope when using the tracheal approach. The transcutaneous approach allows direct evaluation of the lung and distal trachea through the air sac. Both of the methods are safe, and specific contraindications for pulmonoscopy in snakes are not known except for any anesthesia contraindication.

Keywords: Air sac; Endoscopy; Imaging; Pathology; Pulmonoscopy; Reptiles; Respiratory tract; Snakes.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System / veterinary*
Endoscopy / methods
Endoscopy / veterinary*
Respiratory Tract Diseases / diagnosis
Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary*
Snakes*