Laparoscopic Anatomy of the Coelomic Cavity Organs in Female Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta Elegans)

Background: Turtles are one of the oldest reptiles and have evolved about 200 million years ago. One of them is the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta). These freshwater turtles are native to the southern United States and northern Mexico. However, they have become popular pets in Iran and many countries around the world. Due to being non-native, they are considered one of the main dangers for the destruction of turtles' species in Iran and other countries. Therefore, knowing the location of coelomic cavity organs can be of great help in performing surgeries such as neutering in this species of turtle to prevent over reproduction and to preserve other species from the possibility of extinction and destruction. Objective: Due to the fact that a precise descriptive study of the anatomy of the coelomic structures in the red-eared slider has not been conducted so far, and considering the necessity of having accurate information about coelomic anatomy for performing various surgeries using laparoscopic techniques, this study was carried out to determine the laparoscopic anatomy of the coelomic organs in red-eared sliders. Methods: The turtles were off feed for 24 h before surgery. Anesthesia was induced with ketamine and diazepam and continued using the inhaler method. After scrubbing the prefemoral region and restraining, the center of the prefemoral fossa was sheared. The laparoscopy rigid lens was transmitted through this cut into the coelomic cavity without insufflation. After the completion of exploratory surgery, the cutting was closed. Results: The study of coelomic cavity organs was performed on each of 5 turtles using laparoscopic technique with only one cut in the specified regions. The location and position of the organs were well determined to be used in future studies. Conclusions: The use of laparoscopic technique is a practical and reliable way to examine the organs of the coelomic cavity. Although this method requires factors such as the ability of the surgeon to use the device, it is a noninvasive technique that helps the surgeon in accessing the organs away from the cutting site.