Laparoscopic repositioning of chronic gastric volvulus in a dog

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Authors

Van Heerden, Frans G.
Hartman, Marthinus Jacobus
McClure, Vanessa
Kirberger, Robert M.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

AOSIS OpenJournals

Abstract

A 12-year-old spayed Newfoundland bitch was presented with chronic non-productive vomiting, regurgitation and coughing of six weeks’ duration. On clinical examination, the dog was depressed with no other significant findings. Haematology and biochemistry investigations detected no abnormalities. Thoracic and abdominal radiographs revealed a megaoesophagus and an abnormally positioned pylorus. A thoracic and abdominal computed tomography scan confirmed the abnormal position of the stomach, together with moderate aspiration pneumonia. Laparoscopic examination of the peritoneal cavity revealed the greater omentum wrapped over the stomach, with a fold visualised between the abnormally positioned pyloric antrum and the gastric corpus. A 180-degree clockwise gastric rotation was laparoscopically diagnosed and corrected. The normal position of the stomach was confirmed before a laparoscopic-assisted incisional gastropexy was performed. Post-operatively the vomiting and regurgitation resolved and the patient was discharged. Twenty-four hours after discharge, the dog was presented with deteriorating clinical signs of aspiration pneumonia. The owner declined treatment, additional diagnostics as well as a necropsy and requested euthanasia. Chronic gastric volvulus should be considered as a rare differential diagnosis in dogs with non-specific, chronic gastrointestinal signs. Radiography, computed tomography and laparoscopy are valuable diagnostic aids in making this diagnosis. Chronic gastric volvulus can be successfully reduced laparoscopically as reported here for the first time.

Description

Keywords

Dogs (Canis familiaris), Chronic gastric volvulus, Chronic non-productive vomiting, Regurgitation, Coughing, Pylorus, Laparoscopy, Computed tomography, Radiography

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Van Heerden, F.G., Hartman, M.J., McClure, V. & Kirberger, R.M., 2018, ‘Laparoscopic repositioning of chronic gastric volvulus in a dog’, Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 89(0), a1713. https://DOI.org/10.4102/jsava.v89i0.1713.