Martin Sarner: gastroenterologist who explored the link between the gut and brain—and advised London Zoo on a panda with stomach problems

Ching Ching was not Martin Sarner’s typical patient—but not many giant pandas have gastroenterological problems. Ching Ching had arrived at London Zoo with her mate Chia Chia in September 1974. By March 1980 she was presenting as lethargic with a swollen stomach, raising hopes that she might be pregnant.

When a concerned zookeeper rang up University College Hospital (UCH) asking to speak to a gastroenterologist they were put through to Sarner, who quickly realised that Ching Ching was in fact menopausal and had ascites.

He advised her vet, was present at her laparotomy, and arranged for her samples to be processed by London hospital laboratories. They were labelled “Surname: Giant Panda. First name: Ching Ching.”

Sarner suggested changing her diet to test for food allergies. He noted in a paper for the Lancet1 that the removal of egg seemed to make a difference, but the only way to be sure was to reintroduce it. Given that she was the only female panda in Britain, and one of only 13 giant pandas outside China, he concluded with restrained understatement that this “might result in a severe reaction, and there is an …