Abstract

Dolphin fundic (second) stomach endoscopy has been reported,^1,2 but a technique specific to bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) has not been described. Navigating a flexible endoscope into the fundic chamber in Tursiops remains a challenge for many marine mammal clinicians. Proper handling of the endoscope and knowledge of bottlenose dolphin gastric anatomy are essential for success. The head of the endoscope is held with the left hand and the fingers of the left hand operate the control knobs. The right hand is used to advance, withdraw, and twist (torque) the endoscope insertion tube. There are raised rugae that create a prominent fold on the left craniodorsal wall of the forestomach, just past the esophagus-forestomach junction. This fold identifies the opening to a channel that leads to the fundic stomach. The channel courses cranioventrally and to the left, and the open fundic ostium appears at the end of this channel as a distinct ~2.5 cm ring. The luminal red mucosa of the fundic chamber is visible past the ring. Navigating the connection between the forestomach and fundic stomach requires considerable flexion of the endoscope. An acutely flexed endoscope is impossible to advance, so once the ostium is located, the endoscope must be relaxed and straightened in order to proceed into the fundic chamber. Examination of the fundic stomach lumen is straightforward, though insufflation is limited due to the relative inelasticity of the fundic chamber wall. With practice, endoscopic evaluation of both the forestomach and fundic stomach of bottlenose dolphins is possible and should be part of a complete gastric endoscopic examination.

*Presenting author

Literature Cited

1.  Reidarson, T. 2003. Endoscopic Approach to the Second (Fundic) Stomach Chamber in Dolphins. IAAAM 34th Annual Conference Proceedings, Kohala Coast HI.

2.  Van Bonn, W. and S. Dover. 2018. Applied Flexible and Rigid Endoscopy. In: Gulland FMD, Dierauf, LA, and Whitman, KL, editors. CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, 3rd Edition. Boca Raton FL: CRC Press. 559–561.