Massive injured eight-foot python given CT scan as medics have to TAPE it to machine
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Brave medics gave a huge eight-foot injured python a CT scan in the world's first procedure of its kind.
The python was discovered by forest officials in Ananadpur in the eastern Indian state of Odisha with multiple injuries on its body and head.
After being handed over to Snake Helpline, an organisation that focuses on the health of snakes and assists in snake rescues in the eastern state, doctors at Modern Health Care Clinic conducted the CT scan on it and found multiple head injuries.
Dr Bishwadeep Jana said: "The scan revealed the soft tissue edema in the cranial region of python's head.
"It is recovering fast but we will keep it under observation for at least a month."
(Image: Caters)
(Image: Caters)
The doctor further claimed that this was the first time a scan had been conducted on a snake as " the machines are very costly and an animal or a reptile can damage it.
"It is a common practice in the West but here, hospitals do not want to take any risk."
The giant snake was made to stick to table using an adhesive medical tape to restrain its movement.
But the biggest challenge for the activists was to convince doctors at a private clinic to allow the snake in for a CT scan.
(Image: Caters)
(Image: Caters)
Subhendu Mallik, General Secretary of Snake Helpline said : "As there was no provision for such treatment at the government hospitals, to convince the doctors at a private clinic to allow the python in for a CT scan was a biggest challenge for us.
"We are thankful to the doctors and the proprietor of the clinic who agreed and allowed the CT scan to happen.
"Even though there was a case of a python being given anaesthesia abroad, but we feared doing so here."
With the first such case of a giant python's CT Scan, it is believed that it will encourage other hospitals and private clinics to allow the animals and other reptiles for scans in emergency.