After sonographic preexamination a tightening of the gorge could be diagnosed in this blacktip shark, located close to the cardia. 14 days later the surgery took place. We were able to isolate a 1, 5 x 1 cm large piece of plastic, stuck in the cranial cardia region. It caused a fibrinogenic proliferation which then obstructed the cardia entrance. After incision of the lumen side (approach via open gastrectomy) and manually controlled balloon dilatation the animal could be released again in the aquarium. The surgery time was 2 hours; the wakening phase without excitation was 30 minutes.
