Comparison of traditional thermal support with the forced air warmer system in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis)

摘要

Active warming of birds under general anesthesia is required to prevent hypothermia and its life-threatening consequences. The ability of the forced air warming system to provide thermal homeostasis was compared to traditional heating modalities during isoflurane anesthesia of Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis). The esophageal temperature of each bird was recorded during 60-minute trials while the surgical area and the ambient room temperature were monitored. None of the warming treatments prevented a significant decrease in esophageal temperature over the 60 minutes, but forced air warming maintained temperatures within the clinically acceptable normothermic range. The forced air warmer proved superior to the circulating water blanketand infrared emitter for restricting heat loss.