Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
German shepherd dog with gas-filled twisted spleen and surgery outcome
By Vaitkus, Logan A et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2024·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Emphysematous splenic torsion in a German shepherd dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 9-year-old male German shepherd was brought in after showing signs of tiredness and not eating for two days. The vet found a swollen abdomen and some fluid in the belly, which led to X-rays and a CT scan that showed the spleen was twisted and had gas buildup. The dog underwent surgery to remove the damaged spleen, but unfortunately, he developed a serious complication afterward and had to be euthanized four days later. This case highlights the importance of recognizing splenic torsion and being aware of potential complications after surgery.
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Abstract
A 9-year-old castrated male German shepherd dog was presented because of a 2-day history of lethargy and anorexia. Abdominal distention and free peritoneal fluid were noted on physical examination, which prompted radiographs revealing a large, soft tissue and stippled gas opaque structure in the right cranial abdomen. Computed tomography was used to further describe the structure and assess for comorbidities in the dog. Both CT and abdominal radiographs supported a diagnosis of emphysematous splenic torsion. The enlarged spleen was surgically extracted, along with sections of necrotic omentum. Four days after the procedure, the dog developed a portal vein thrombus and secondary abdominal effusion, which ultimately led to the decision for humane euthanasia. Veterinarians should know the different imaging modalities used to diagnose splenic torsion and the possible postoperative complications following treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39355703/