Yorkshire innovation saves zoo animal
A SURGICAL instrument developed in Yorkshire for use on people has helped vets diagnose disease in an Asian Golden Cat.
The Pretzelflex device, designed and manufactured by Surgical Innovations, was used to examine the cat called Ipoh at Edinburgh Zoo.
Named because of its unusual pretzel shape, the instrument allows surgeons to hold liver and tissue during keyhole operations.
Keyhole surgery is still rare in animals and the procedure was watched by a visiting professor from China who is part of the team working with the giant pandas that recently arrived at the zoo.
Romain Pizzi, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland vet that carried out the operation, said: “Over the last few months Ipoh has lost weight, behaved more quietly and has had a dull poorly groomed coat which led us to believe he was ill. Ultrasound examination and other testing showed us small cysts in some of the organs, but couldn’t explain what they were or how to treat them.
“We needed to make a diagnosis quickly but with the help of specialist surgical instruments donated by Surgical Innovations this was made possible. I am pleased to say the whole procedure was a great success and we hope to get Ipoh back to full health soon.”
It was the first time the Pretzelflex device had been used in animals and was couriered to the zoo hours before the surgery.
