Laparotomy-assisted endoscopic removal of gastrointestinal foreign bodies: Evaluation of this technique and postoperative recovery in dogs and cats.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of the laparotomy-assisted endoscopic removal (LAER) of gastrointestinal foreign bodies (FBs) with traditional enterotomy, and to determine which factors affected the ability to remove FBs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Dogs and cats (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;81) with gastrointestinal FBs. METHODS: Dogs and cats were divided into Group 1 (LAER, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;40) and Group 2 (Enterotomy, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;41). The localization and characteristics of the FBs (sharp or blunt; discrete or linear; single or multiple) were evaluated statistically to identify the factors that affected the ability of LAER to remove, partially or completely, the FBs (&#x3c7;test). The length of the postoperative stay, postoperative analgesia, and resumption of spontaneous feeding were compared between groups (Mann-Whitney U-test). Short-term follow up (14&#x2009;days) was recorded. RESULTS: Laparotomy-assisted endoscopic removal allowed complete or partial removal of FBs in 35/40 dogs and cats, regardless of the characteristics or the localization of the FBs. The presence of intestinal wall damage (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;.043) was associated with the conversion to an enterotomy. Group 1 required a shorter postoperative hospital stay (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;.006), less need for analgesia (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;.001), and experienced a faster resumption of spontaneous feeding (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;.012), and similar complication rate to Group 2. CONCLUSION: Laparotomy-assisted endoscopic removal resulted in a faster postoperative recovery when compared with an enterotomy. The FBs' characteristics or localization did not affect the efficacy of the technique to remove FBs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Laparotomy-assisted endoscopic removal allows the removal of a variety of FBs, avoiding intestinal incision and resulting in a fast postoperative recovery.