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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Dog with reversed organs and chronic diaphragm hernia surgery

By Witsberger, Tige H et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2009·Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Situs inversus totalis in a dog with a chronic diaphragmatic hernia.

Species:
dog
Breathing & coughDogs

Plain-English summary

A 4-year-old spayed female Doberman was brought in for breathing problems after being sedated. X-rays showed she had a diaphragmatic hernia, which is a tear in the diaphragm that can cause organs to move into the chest cavity. During surgery to fix the hernia, the vet found that her organs were arranged in a mirror image, a rare condition called situs inversus totalis. After the surgery, the dog recovered well and was doing fine at a check-up 13 months later.

People also search for: dog breathing problems · Doberman diaphragmatic hernia treatment · situs inversus in dogs

Abstract

Situs inversus totalis is a rare, congenital condition that is characterized by the development of the thoracic and abdominal viscera in a mirror image to their normal orientation. This case report describes the condition in a 4-year-old, spayed female Doberman pinscher that was evaluated for dyspnea following sedation. Radiography confirmed a diaphragmatic hernia. Situs inversus was discovered during surgical correction. The diaphragmatic rent was repaired, and the dog was clinically normal at recheck 13 months after surgery.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19723848/