Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gastric dilatation-volvulus risk after splenic torsion surgery in dogs
By Millis, D L et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1995·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Gastric dilatation-volvulus after splenic torsion in two dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Two dogs developed a serious condition called gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), which is when the stomach twists and fills with gas, after having surgery to remove their spleens due to splenic torsion. This happened 2 and 17 months after their splenectomies. The surgery may have made their stomachs more mobile, increasing the risk of GDV. Veterinarians suggest that performing a preventive surgery called gastropexy at the same time as the splenectomy could help reduce the risk of GDV in these cases, but it should only be done if the dog is stable enough for the extra procedure.
People also search for: dog stomach twist after spleen surgery · gastric dilatation volvulus prevention in dogs · splenic torsion surgery risks
Abstract
Two dogs developed gastric dilatation-volvulus 2 and 17 months, respectively, after splenectomy for treatment of splenic torsion. Splenic displacement and torsion may stretch the gastric ligaments, allowing increased mobility of the stomach. After splenectomy, an anatomic void may be created in the cranioventral part of the abdomen, contributing to the mobility of the stomach. Veterinarians treating dogs with isolated splenic torsion may wish to consider prophylactic gastropexy at splenectomy, to reduce the chance of future gastric dilatation-volvulus. Prophylactic gastropexy should be done only if the dog's hemodynamic status is stable enough to allow for performance of the additional surgery.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7628930/