Message Number: SG6020 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: sukiec@optonline.net
Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 16:18:50 +0100 (BST)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Subject: RE: Adrenalectomies
Message-ID: <2440788.1063207130692.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
You may recall that I mentioned that 3 and 1/2 Sherman had a chance of being our second early adrenal ferret but things really so far didn't point in that direction. Well, like I said, his adrenals were checked today when his GI biopsies were taken (as were other organs checked).
His right looked normal and actually wasn't that close to the Vena Cava compared to some, so if he has to lose that at some point it might come cleanly in him.
His left adrenal itself looked fine but the blood vessels supplying it were not fine by a wide margin. They were huge and prolific, and their integrity was in question. He was at risk of a bleed-out without that even being known. This is unusual. In 21 years I can recall only one other ferret we've had who had anything at all like this on the left side (years ago). Sherman has a number of hemoclips now. Hey, bodies all have their own hidden mysteries.
So, his left adrenal was pulled and is being biopsied, of course, and because of his risk level he is being hospitalized overnight but he is not expected to be in any danger; it's just precautionary.
It does not grossly appear like a malignancy, but he was unresponsive to a high dose Lupron depot which increases the chances that it might be. Pathology is the only way to know, of course, so we'll see what that tells us, about both the adrenal and his GI biopsies.
So, we've had a second adrenalectomy as early as 3 1/2 years old now.
Send comments to Pam at pjdutche@email.unc.edu. Please note that this address is only useful for questions about the FHL archive. Questions about ferret health, or those intended for the FHL, should be sent to the Ferret Health List.