Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Complications after feeding tube surgery in dogs with septic
By Elmenhorst, K et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2020·Dick White Referrals, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective study of complications associated with surgically-placed gastrostomy tubes in 43 dogs with septic peritonitis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 43 dogs with septic peritonitis (a serious abdominal infection) underwent surgery to place feeding tubes to help them eat while they recovered. The most common cause of their condition was a surgical complication from previous procedures. After surgery, the dogs started receiving nutrition through the tubes within about 16 hours, and while some experienced minor issues, there were no major complications. About half of the dogs were able to go home after an average of 5 days in the hospital, showing that the feeding tubes were a safe option for these patients.
People also search for: dog septic peritonitis treatment · feeding tube for dog recovery · complications of gastrostomy tube in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety of surgically-placed gastrostomy feeding tubes in dogs with septic peritonitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 43 dogs with septic peritonitis that had undergone surgical exploration and gastrostomy tube (de Pezzer or Foley) placement as part of the surgical procedure. Postoperative recovery times, hospitalisation times, complication rates and overall survival times were documented. RESULTS: The most common cause of septic peritonitis was dehiscence of an enterotomy or enterectomy site. Fifteen dogs had a Foley gastrostomy tube placed and 28 had a de Pezzer gastrostomy tube placed. The median time from surgery to the start of enteral nutrition was 16 hours (range 3 to 28 hours). There were no major complications relating to the gastrostomy tube; minor complications occurred in 11 (26%) patients. The overall median time spent in hospital was 5 days (range 3 to 29 days) for patients surviving to discharge and 22 (51%) dogs survived overall. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Gastrostomy feeding tubes provide a safe way to provide enteral nutrition to dogs with septic peritonitis; they are associated with a low complication rate in these patients.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31763703/