Canine gastropexy

Canine gastropexy is a surgical procedure performed on large breed dogs to prevent gastric dilatation, commonly known as torsion bloat. Torsion bloat is a life-threatening condition in which the stomach flips over and expands, trapping air and gases in the stomach. Because circulation to the stomach and spleen are cut off the dog goes into shock and dies. [ [http://www.2ndchance.info/bloat.htm "Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV), Bloat and Torsion"] , Dr. Ron Hines, All Creature Care, April 21, 2006.]

In gastropexy, the stomach is tacked to the right side of the abdominal wall, so it cannot shift or twist. ["Key gastrointestinal surgeries - Incisional gastropexy," by K. Watson & K.M. Tobias, "Veterinary Medicine", Vol 101(4), 213+, 2006.] ["A rapid and strong laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy in dogs," C.A. Rawlings, T.L. Foutz, M.B. Mahaffey, et al., "American Journal of Veterinary Research", Vol 62, pages 871–875, 2001.] The procedure can be conducted laparoscopally as well. ["Laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy," C.A. Rawlings, "Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association,"Vol 38(1), Pages: 15-19, 2002.] ["Intracorporeal suture reinforcement during laparoscopic gastropexy in dogs," F.M. Sanchez-Margallo, I. Diaz-Guemes, & J. Uson-Gargallo, "Veterinary Record", Vol 160(23), Pages: 806-807, 2007.]

Gastropexy is an effective preventive against death from torsion bloat in large dogs. In studies of dogs treated for bloat, of those with gastropexy, only 4.3% had a re-occurrence of bloat, compared to 54.5% of those dogs that did not have a gastropexy. ["A prospective study of survival and recurrence following the acute gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome in 136 dogs," L.T. Glickman, G.C. Lantz, D.B. Schellenberg, & N.W. Glickman. "Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association", Vol 34, pages 253–259, 1998.]

ee also

*Gastropexy

References