Thailand achieves world's first blood transfusion in elephant surgery

[webfact]

Thailand achieves world's first blood transfusion in elephant surgery

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre has announced the world's first time success in blood transfusion in veterinary surgery of a sick male elephant suffering from uterine infection after it was brought into hard work by its owner in the jungle one month after delivering a baby.

The elephant conservation centre based at Hang Chat district of Lampang province conducted surgery on 18-year-old elephant named “Modi” which was sent from Thasong Yang district of Tak province to the centre after its womb spilled out from its abdominal cavity through its reproductive organ after delivering a male baby.

Information given by its owner revealed that Modi gave birth to a male baby a month ago, according to chief of the elephant conservation centre Mr Sitthidech Mahasawangkul.

The owner said one month after the delivery, he brought the elephant back to the jungle to work and during the period had to walk atop two hills.

This caused the elephant’s womb to spill out of its abdominal cavity.

He immediately took the elephant for treatment at the centre in Lampang on emergency basis.

According to the veterinarian of the centre, a team of 18 veterinarians from Kasetsart and Chiang Mai universities had joined in the surgery which took more than five hours to put the womb back in its place.

As part of the womb was infected and swollen, the team first had to put in back to the abdomen as womb is a significant organ of a female elephant and could not be removed or cut same as other small animals like dogs or cats.

The primary surgery was successful when the elephant’s condition has improved. It can eat and drink and its digestion system is normal.

But what the team of doctors were still worried was the control of the infection after the surgery which remained unsafe for the elephant.

If the infection spread to the blood, then it might die.

The team now has to use antibiotics to treat infections, and place it under close monitoring of its condition.

But the surgery has achieved a success which was the first time in the world that blood transfusion was used with Modi, said Mr Sitthidech.

He said since the surgery had caused Modi to bleed a lot, the team had used the blood of a male elephant which had the same type and matched her blood in the transfusion.

Modi was safe during the surgery which was the first time in blood transfusion in elephants, he said.

Blood transfusion in elephant is the Chiang Mai university’s study project and this time it was a success for the first time in the world.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thailand-achieves-worlds-first-blood-transfusion-in-elephant-surgery


-- Thai PBS 2015-10-09

[speedtripler]

How much money was spent saving this elephant?

How many Thais live below the poverty line?

I would bill the owner for making the elephant work too hard after birth for the surgery, doctors and medication and if he doesn't want to pay up... Confiscate the elephant and ban him from owning elephants in future...

[oncearugge]

Despite the cynical response above I applaud and congratulate the Veterinarians who cared for this animal.

Restoring a prolapsed uterus in an animal the size of an Elephant is a significant achievement.

I hope Modi recovers fully and lives to enjoy a long life.

[Misterwhisper]

That "owner" should immediately be charged with animal cruelty under Thailand's new animal protection law and he also should pay for the treatment.

Furthermore, I agree with previous poster speedtripler that the elephant should be confiscated.

[Artisi]

sick male elephant suffering from uterine infection after it was brought into hard work by its owner in the jungle one month after delivering a baby.

More excellent proof-readi​ng - --

[derator01]

Please stay on topic.

[h90]

How much money was spent saving this elephant?

How many Thais live below the poverty line?

I would bill the owner for making the elephant work too hard after birth for the surgery, doctors and medication and if he doesn't want to pay up... Confiscate the elephant and ban him from owning elephants in future...

Where do you read that the owner let the elephant work hard after birth?

"The owner said one month after the delivery, he brought the elephant back to the jungle to work and during the period had to walk atop two hills."

1 month after is a long time.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

I think they are wrong, transfusions has been done before. In 2012 heart surgery was done on a small elephant (think Lola) in the UK which would have included blood transfusion. The Mirror reported on it.

http://www.asesg.org/PDFfiles/2011/Houston%20Zoo%20Asian%20Elephant%20EEHV%20Protocol.pdf - bottom of page 9

​https://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDQQFjAEahUKEwjbnr2ji7XIAhUCBI4KHRxaBWk&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.asianelephantresearch.com%2Fproject-Blood-Compatibility-Testing.php&usg=AFQjCNGl1agBqPC7x3yoh0qhTMcgHGKM2A&sig2=HWkefR5734ufIMPA_dyHEw

[2fishin2]

Typical TV post....you people are pathetic. Ever heard about congratulating people for a job well done instead of finding fault in every news post made? I know its a novel idea. Look past your own ignorance once in a while....

[Reigntax]

sick male elephant suffering from uterine infection after it was brought into hard work by its owner in the jungle one month after delivering a baby.

More excellent proof-readi​ng - --

Now the elephants are becoming katoeys, heshes or shemales. Edited October 9, 2015 by Reigntax

[kiwikeith]

Despite the cynical response above I applaud and congratulate the Veterinarians who cared for this animal.

Restoring a prolapsed uterus in an animal the size of an Elephant is a significant achievement.

I hope Modi recovers fully and lives to enjoy a long life.

Well said, and a great achievment, the Elephant should be retired to live a peacefull life.

[metisdead]

Off topic nonsense posts and replies have been removed.

[heardy]

I aggree with 2fishin2 Congratulations are in order to the Vets involved and to Thailand generally.. Too many Thai bashing posts on practically every post

[ksamuiguy]

Thanks for saving her life.