Removal of a foreign body from the intestine of a leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis) via laparoscopy

After a period of anorexia, a leopard tortoise (Geochelone pardalis), which had been housed under bad conditions, was force-fed with a blunted needle. Accidentally the animal had swallowed the needle. On radiographs taken imm ediately, the needle proved to be in the stomach. On gastroscopy 36 hours l ater the needle had already left the stomach into the duodenum. Consecutive X-rays showed the needle to proceed in the intestinal tract. After it stay ed in the same place for 3 days, with the animal under general anesthesia t he needle was removed with the aid of laparoscopic techniques. The incision s in the skin and the gut were closed according to general surgical procedu res. Recovery was rapid. One month after surgery the animal started eating itself, and sometime later she even produced eggs, from which one healthy y oung tortoise hatched.