Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog and cat with twisted liver lobe - symptoms and treatment
By Swann, H M & Brown, D C·Published in Veterinary surgery : VS·2001·Department of Clinical Studies, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Hepatic lobe torsion in 3 dogs and a cat.
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old male Labrador was brought in after showing signs of lethargy, increased thirst, and not wanting to eat for several days. The vet discovered that he had a twisted liver lobe, which can happen for various reasons, including trauma or tumors. Surgery was performed to reposition the affected lobe, and thankfully, the procedure was successful, leading to a good recovery for the dog. It's important for pet owners to recognize these symptoms early, as prompt treatment can prevent serious complications.
People also search for: dog lethargy and not eating · twisted liver in dogs · Labrador surgery recovery
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features of hepatic lobe torsions in 3 dogs and 1 cat. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Three client-owned dogs and 1 client-owned cat. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed, and information regarding signalment, clinical signs, physical-exam findings, diagnostic tests performed, treatment, outcome, and follow-up was retrieved. RESULTS: Clinical signs existed for 4 hours to 1 week before examination. Signs were nonspecific in 2 animals that did not have an obvious cause for the hepatic torsion. These signs consisted of lethargy (2), polyuria/polydypsia (2), and anorexia (1). In the other 2 animals, signs were suggestive of the underlying cause of the hepatic lobe torsion. In 1 dog, the torsion was associated with a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. The cat had a concurrent hemoabdomen secondary to a ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma. Bloodwork abnormalities were nonspecific. Twisted liver lobes included the left lateral lobe (2), the caudate lobe (1), and the right medial lobe (1). Surgical resection (2) or repositioning (1) of the affected liver lobe was attempted in the 3 dogs, and was successful in 2. CONCLUSION: Hepatic lobe torsion is a rare problem but has been reported in humans, rabbits, dogs, pigs, a cat, and a horse. The left lateral liver lobe is most frequently affected. This condition may be idiopathic or associated with neoplasia or absence of ligamentous support (congenital or traumatic) to the liver. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Prompt surgical resection or repositioning of the involved liver lobe can lead to a successful outcome, avoiding the deleterious effects of venous obstruction such as thrombosis and subsequent necrosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11555825/