TITLE:
Novel Surgical Technique for Acoustic Transmitter Insertion in Rainbow Trout Reduces the Need for Surgical Training
AUTHORS:
Nathan Huysman, Ashley Kelican, Lauren Van Rysselberge, Jeremy Kientz, Jill M. Voorhees, Michael E. Barnes
KEYWORDS:
Surgery, Acoustic Transmitter, Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.12 No.9,
September
28,
2021
ABSTRACT: The implantation of acoustic transmitters into the
peritoneal cavity of fish is typically performed by experienced surgeons. This
study compared the effectiveness of an experienced and inexperienced surgeon
performing two different types of transmitter insertion techniques on rainbow
trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
The methods used were either a traditional sutured ventral incision or a novel
unsutured lateral incision. There was no significant difference in surgical
duration, tag retention, or fish survival between the experienced and naïve surgeon.
The time to complete surgical wound closure was not significantly different
between the fish operated on by an experienced or naïve surgeon, and surgeon
experience had no significant effect on the duration of inflammation. However,
there were significant differences between the two surgical techniques,
regardless of surgeon experience. The ventral incision with sutures method took
approximately three times longer to complete than the lateral incision-only
method. However, complete wound closure was significantly faster in the sutured
ventral incision treatment compared to the unsutured lateral treatment.
Post-surgery inflammation was over seven times longer in the fish with sutures
compared to those only receiving a lateral incision. Tag retention was not
significantly different between the two surgical methods. The results of this
study indicate that the unsutured lateral surgical technique used in this
experiment can be completed with minimal training and surgical experience in contrast
to the standard technique requiring sutures.
These results also provide additional support to the use of sutureless surgical techniques for acoustic transmitter implantation.