Repair of non-lethal vascular injury caused by giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Grillo, Vinicius Tadeu Ramos da Silva [UNESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Jaldin, Rodrigo Gibin [UNESP], Wakasugui, William [UNESP], Sembenelli, Marcelo [UNESP], Haddad Júnior, Vidal [UNESP]
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng; por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1677-5449.210081; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/230368
• topic: Giant anteater; Vascular surgical procedures; Vascular system injuries; Wild animals

The giant anteater is a mammal found in Central and South America. These animals have claws that can reach 6.5 centimeters in length, which they use to dig anthills to obtain food and for defense. We report the case of a 52-year-old male patient with a history of epilepsy who was taken unconscious to the emergency room due to injuries to his right arm caused by an anteater. He underwent surgical exploration to investigate suspected vascular trauma, revealing a combined (arterial and venous) injury of the brachial vessels, which were repaired. He recovered well and was discharged on the second postoperative day. During outpatient follow-up he continued to improve, with no neurological or vascular sequelae.