Assessment of multiple cardiocentesis in ball pythons (Python regius).

This study evaluated the gross and microscopic effects of serial blood collection from six ball pythons (Python regius) by using cardiocentesis. We collected 39 blood samples from each snake over a 120-day period. Cardiocentesis was performed on manually restrained snakes, with each sample requiring approximately 15 sec to collect. No clinically apparent complications were noted in any of the snakes after the cardiocentesis procedures, and all snakes survived until they were euthanized 73 days after the last blood sample. Minimal gross lesions were noted at necropsy; faint brown pigmentation of the pericardium was present in five of six snakes, and three snakes had approximately 0.5 ml dark pigmented fluid in the pericardial space. One snake had a small, organized hematoma in the pericardial space. Microscopic findings were limited to moderate and regularly arranged collagen fibrosis and focal thickening of the epicardium. The pericardial sac in all snakes had a mild infiltrate of hemosiderin-laden macrophages and small numbers of heterophils. The results suggest that serial cardiocentesis is well tolerated in ball pythons.