Wildoctric Gets a Hernia Surgery

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Veterinarians at The Marine Mammal Center examine a young elephant seal patient to determine why she was not eating. Here, they learn why. She has a sliding hiatal hernia!

© Stan Jensen

This young, female, northern elephant seal was rescued in the middle of the Center's rescue range, on a beach in Monterey State Park, April 30, 2011. Wildoctric was extremely lethargic and suffering from severe malnutrition, weighing only 40 kilograms -- pups this age should weigh at least 75 kilograms! The Center's rescue team responded quickly to a concerned citizen's call, rescued and delivered her to the waiting veterinary team, back in Sausalito.

Wildoctric in her pool at The Marine Mammal Center

© Jackie Dolan

TMMC volunteer Marjorie Boor keeps a close eye on a rare sliding hiatal hernia surgery performed on an elephant seal! High-definition cameras and monitors guide and record this ground-breaking procedure.

© Stan Jensen

Pictured in the Center's hospital, a laparoscopic gastropexy is performed on this young Northern Elephant Seal (a common procedure to humans, as well!)

© Stan Jensen

Wildoctric and another elephant seal head off to the ocean at Point Reyes, CA

© Jackie Dolan

During her admit-exam, the veterinary staff noticed that the young elephant seal already had a green flipper tag - indicating that she had been counted only a few weeks prior at the Ano Nuevo State Reserve. Within days, the team realized that this wayward pelagic pup was suffering from something internal. "She was a poor eater, managing only a couple of whole fish, so we prescribed supplemental tube-feeding, but still, she couldn't keep her food down, vomiting frequently," explained Dr. Rebecca Greene, one of the Center's associate veterinarians. "Despite our best efforts, she was not able to consistently gain and keep weight-on," added Dr. Greene. Therefore, after nearly three weeks of erratic gains and losses, Dr. Bill Van Bonn, the Center's director of veterinary science, decided it was time for some more in-depth investigations.

"To my knowledge, this was the first time that anyone attempted these procedures on an elephant seal," explained Dr. Van Bonn. The team started by investigated the internal organs using a series of basic radio graphs, or x-rays, which revealed some abdominal abnormalities. A few days later, the team conducted more detailed contrast-radio graphs and a subsequent endoscopy revealed the underlying problem -- a sliding hiatal hernia! These procedures are commonly performed on humans, where a tiny camera, mounted at the end of a long thin tube is inserted through the mouth, down the esophagus, and into the stomach.

"There was something inside the abdominal region that was herniating, or moving, into the chest cavity -- and that "something" was her stomach!" explained Dr. Van Bonn. "So, we decided to perform a laparoscopic gastropexy to keep the stomach from moving into the thoracic cavity," added Dr. Van Bonn. On June 9, 2011, Wildoctric began an incredibly smooth recovery. Just hours after surgery, she accepted small amounts of prescribed whole fish, and was ready for more. Each day, her ration was carefully monitored and gradually adjusted-up. Originally, Wildoctric was admitted to the hospital at only 41 kilograms. But in just 20 days after surgery, she had gained nearly 20 kilograms and was released with other rehabilitated patients, at a healthy 61.5 kilograms!

"Watching this marine mammal swimming and diving, and successfully retrieving whole fish on her own was a joy," said Deb Wickham, the Center's veterinary science operations manager. "Her treatment, rehabilitation and release outcome is what we all work for, each and every day!" added Wickham.

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