Grant: 23-044C
Project Title: Critical Surgical Equipment for Intensive Care
Project Manager: Brooke Burkhalter, DVM
Organization: University of Florida - Whitney Laboratory (Research and Educational Institute)
Grant Amount: $10,426.50
Completion Date: 2023-11-27
Summary: This project will expand our surgical capabilities through the purchase of a ventilator and oxygen condenser to our surgical suite to expand our critical care capabilities. Each year we see 60-90 patients and this number has been doubling every year since 2020. Our patients are burdened with large tumors on their soft tissue and require multiple surgeries during their six to 10-month rehabilitation. The addition of this advanced surgical equipment will enable our animal care staff and veterinarian to provide excellent medical treatment for our most critical surgical patients. The addition of a ventilator will enable staff to provide consistent breaths, both during and post operatively. Additionally, some critical surgical patients require assisted breathing for upwards of 12 hours post operatively, so this equipment will aid in the consistency, quality, of those breaths and provide staff assistance. The Oxygen condenser is able to collect ambient air and condense down the oxygen that we provide to patients either post operatively and during mass stranding events, like winter cold-stun events. The Whitney Laboratory is an ideal location to house this facility for several reasons. There is an excellent ocean water system and researchers at the Whitney Lab specialize in molecular biology, marine genomics and have access to state-of-the-art scientific equipment and techniques that are expanding the knowledge and understanding of the Fibropapilloma disease and its transmission.
Results: We have effectively utilized the grant from the Sea Turtle Grants Program to acquire essential medical equipment for our sea turtle hospital at UF
Whitney Laboratory. This funding enabled us to procure a Tahoe 50 psi oxygen concentrator and Vyaire Carefusion Pulmonetics ventilator, both of which are indispensable in our efforts to provide the best possible care and treatment for injured and sick sea turtles. These crucial additions to our facility will enhance our capacity to support the rehabilitation and recovery of these magnificent creatures, contributing to the conservation of sea turtle populations in the region. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Sea Turtle Grants Program for their generous support, which has made a tangible and lasting impact on the well-being of these remarkable marine animals.