Seattle zoo surgery a first

SEATTLE – Veterinarians and pediatric surgeons removed a cyst near the spine of a baby gorilla at the Woodland Park Zoo, an operation they believe is the first of its kind.

During the hour-long operation Thursday morning at the zoo, surgeons from Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center joined zoo vets in removing the mass, which was 1.2 to 1.6 inches, said Dr. Richard G. Ellenbogen, a neurosurgeon and chairman of the department of neurological surgery at the University of Washington, which is affiliated with the hospital.

The surgery also confirmed that the as-yet-unnamed baby gorilla has a mild case of spina bifida, which doctors said should not be a concern as she grows older.

The baby arrived in October with the cyst at the base of her back, but because of the way gorillas hold their babies it was some time before the deformity was noticed.

Experts hoped to wait until the gorilla was a bit older and could tolerate surgery better but grew concerned as recent tests showed it had become infected and was growing toward the spine, raising a risk of meningitis, said Dr. Kelly E. Helmick, the zoo’s interim director of animal health.

Before the surgery, zookeepers trained the mother, Amanda, to carry her baby to them so they could give antibiotics to help fight the infection, Helmick said.

After the operation, the gorilla was placed on a table outside the operating room to be given fluids and kept warm in a large pink blanket while waking from anesthesia.

As soon as zookeepers returned her to Amanda, the mother grabbed the infant and began nursing, Helmick said. “It was a touching reunion between mom and baby,” she said.

Recovery is expected to take up to two weeks and the prognosis is good, Helmick said.