Pneumocoelom causing cloacal prolapse in a perentie monitor (Varanus giganteus).

CASE REPORT A 16-month-old perentie monitor (Varanus giganteus) was presented for acute-onset tenesmus, coelomic distension and cloacal prolapse. The prolapsed tissue was manually reduced and coelomic radiography and coelioscopy were performed. Radiographs showed a pneumocoelom with a small, collapsed right lung and unstructured interstitial pattern in the left lung. Coelioscopy confirmed pneumocoelom and showed a small accumulation of apparently mucopurulent material in the left cranial coelomic quadrant; no abnormalities were observed on examination of the gastrointestinal tract. These findings lead to a diagnosis of cloacal prolapse secondary to increased intracoelomic pressure associated with pneumocoelom, most likely caused by primary respiratory trauma or disease. CONCLUSION Pneumocoelom is an uncommon condition in reptiles and, to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case of pneumocoelom causing a cloacal prolapse in a lizard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]