Last fall, Jamie underwent an exam to follow up on concerns about her reduced activity levels and her growing belly. Both are more common with age, but we thought an exam was warranted to rule out other causes. And indeed, ultrasound examination did reveal a possible cause: the presence of uterine fibroids, which have the potential to cause significant pain and discomfort. After much research and consultation, Dr. Erin decided to take a twofold approach to managing Jamie’s condition: First, Jamie would receive a subcutaneous hormonal implant that would help shrink the fibroids. And second, those fibroids that could be removed would be extracted using a procedure (and specialized piece of equipment) known as MyoSure.
After receiving an anesthetic injection, Jamie is wheeled to the clinic.
Kate Uselman, CRNA, places an endotracheal tube while 4th-year vet student, Larrea Cottingham, observes—Dr. Erin is always happy to help train vet students who are interested in careers in sanctuary medicine! Dr. Dan prepares Jamie for gas anesthesia.
Dr. Chavez performs the MyoSure procedure while Huong Johnson assists with ultrasonography.
The MyoSure procedure utilizes a hysteroscope and a special cutting and extracting wand to visualize and remove the fibroids. The team watches the procedure on the monitor.
Jamie receives the hormonal implant. With chimps, implants are often placed between the shoulder blades so that they don’t try to remove them.
CSNW Vet Assistant, Krissy, monitors Jamie’s vitals as she recovers back in Front Room 1. We loosely ties scarves to the chimps’ wrists and ankles so that they can’t try to climb or walk away before they are coordinated enough to avoid injury. The scarves also help us safely manipulate their body positioning to maintain an open airway. Providing veterinary care to potentially dangerous animals requires creativity!
We’re so grateful to Dr. Dan Low, Kate Uselman, Dr. Chavez, Huong Johnston, Ashley Mellotte, and Larrea Cottingham for volunteering their time and services to help Jamie (and Dan and Kate for also braving a monster snow storm on the pass!). Thanks, as well, to the folks at Hologic for supplying some of the MyoSure equipment. And thanks—as always!—to our own Dr. Erin for all her research, networking, recruiting, and leadership.
Jamie’s care team (Ashley not pictured) poses for a photo while monitoring Jamie’s recovery.
Jamie takes advantage of a Squishmallow-filled nest while recovering—her scarves still tied to her wrists and ankles.
With those pesky scarves untied, it’s time for a drink.
Dr. Erin serves Jamie some baked sweet potato for dinner.
As long as that snow doesn’t hit us down here in the foothills, I’m sure Jamie will be back on her patrols tomorrow—and hopefully, feeling a whole lot better.
I hope this gets Jamie feeling better! I am glad you all were able to find the cause and give her the care she needs. I’m sure The Boss will be glad to get back to her patrols, weather permitting.
Thank you to everyone for taking such loving care of our Jamie.:revolving_hearts:
As distressing as it is to see Jamie (or any of the Sanctuary residents) laying immobile, I trust that Jamie is receiving excellent care. I am sending all my love to her to wish her a timely and thorough recovery.
Oh, seeing those photos I felt I was there with Jamie! I send you a huge thankyou for
seeing Jamie through this ordeal. Hats off to Dr Erin and the medical team and of course to Jamie. By the look of the after surgery care Jamie looks on the road to recovery
Those nourishing meals will help do the trick.
Bless you all xxxxx
How did the others react to Jamie becoming unconscious, being carted away and being gone? Could they see her as she was waking up?
If I may explaine as best as I can:
When a chimp needs to go to the clinic, they will be seperated in one of the front rooms, so they can be prepaired for the procedure.
I don’t think the other chimps are in vieuw of all that, for obvious reasons.
The recovery is also in the frontroom, and when the patient is well enough, she can have visitors through the mash.
When we have to anesthetize a chimpanzee, we isolate them in Front Room 1 (or 7, depending on the group) and then we attempt to get the other chimps out of that area. We do this to provide a calm, quiet atmosphere for the chimp undergoing anesthesia and also so that we can access all sides of the front room (we may need to enter the chimp enclosure on the opposite side to provide a “bump up” injection if the chimp isn’t adequately sedated). The chimps can usually watch some of the procedure from afar—we’ve found that it actually helps them if they can see some of what is happening. They can see us wheeling the chimp out abd then back in again later. As the chimp begins to recover, we let their group in closer so that they can actively monitor the process without the ability to harrass them (sometimes chimps will spit through the caging on other chimps that are unconscious). Once the chimp has woken up and has regained coordination, we let the other chimps into the adjacent rooms so they can groom through the mesh.
What wonderful teams you’re able to put together on these occasions. Grateful thanks to all concerned. It’s always so difficult to see the chimps looking so vulnerable but knowing Jamie, she’ll be back to Boss Woman in no time.
What an amazing team. Thank you all for all you do. How do the scarves get untied as Jamie becomes more mobile? Does she decide when to take them off or is there a way for a human to do it through the mesh? CSNW IS INCREDIBLE AND I’M SURE JAMIE AGREES WITH THAT STATEMENT, maybe not right after surgery though!
Geeat thanks to Dr. Erin and all the team for the excellent, loving care for Jamie-you are all amazing?
I don’t believe Jamie could receive better care from the Mayo Clinic. I hope you were able to remove the majority of the fibroids and I hope Jamie’s companions don’t over groom her implant!
I find the technology Dr. Erin brings into the clinic absolutely fascinating. Can’t thank Dr. Erin and the entire team enough but still, I am sending heartfelt thanks to all for helping Jamie. Very grateful. We all need Jamie feeling top of her game. I hope she has a swift recovery and feels renewed from all of this high tech tender loving care. Be well dear Jamie.
As they say, it takes a village. What a great care team! It is not usual to see Jamie in a vulnerable position. I assume when she was coherent and coordinated enough, she was able to remove the scarves from her wrists and ankles herself. Thank you for sharing this procedure in such detail. I, too, have uterine fibroids and this may be something I will have to undergo myself before long. Seeing what is involved will now make it easier for me.
Yes, the chimps remove the scarves (and their own IV catheters) once they have recovered.
As always, Dr Erin and her amazing team are wonderful and I would also like to thank them for their knowledge, precious time and love for what they do.
I am grateful for you all!
And I will send healing energy to Jamie.
Thank you all for providing such excellent care for sweet Jamie!!
So strange to see The Boss out of it. Ever since last fall, I’ve been waiting to hear what was up with the fearless leader!
Thanks as always to Dr Erin and the team of experts who helped put the Fun Police back on action! Im sure after a day or two on that wolf blanket and squishy pillows, she’ll be raring to go!