MINI-INVASIVE ENDOSCOPIC-ASSISTED GASTROPEXY FOR DOGS AT RISK OF GASTRIC DILATATION VOLVULUS

Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a frequent acute syndrome found in many large or giant breeds of dogs, that can be prevented demonstrably only by gastropexy¹. This study will analyze an endoscopic-assisted gastropexy procedure. Surgical times, complications, post-operatory recovery and suture strength will be evaluated. Furthermore, Gdv is known to be multifactorial and is thought to be associated to chronic enteropathy²; because of this correlation, a CECCAI clinical scoring index was handed to the owners. 13 healthy dogs, weighing >25kg, over 18 months old, underwent an endoscopic-assisted gastropexy procedure. 1 out of 13 dogs previously manifested a GDV episode, solved with an orogastric tube two weeks before surgery. A blood sample was taken for full haemochromocytometric analysis, serum protein electrophoresis, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen and creatinine at the time of surgery (T0) and three months later (T1). The results of the CECCAI were registered and analyzed. The dogs were able to go home the same day of the surgery. At T1 an abdominal ultrasonography was performed to evaluate the gastropexy adhesion. Mean ± SD surgical time was 19±6 minutes and mean ± SD gastropexy length was 3,2 ± 0.4 cm. At T1, ultrasound examination of the gastropexy site confirm the complete adhesion between the portion of the stomach evaluated and the abdominal wall (no sliding motion detected)³. Inflammatory pattern not found in the laboratory analysis. According to this study, the endoscopic-assisted gastropexy truly results mini-invasive in many different ways⁴. Performing surgery in such a little incision minimizes the surgical field exposure and substantially decreases the anesthesiological duration, with all the benefits intra and post operatory associated. At the same time, the endoscope becomes really important for early diagnoses of chronic enteropathy, even in absence of clinical evidence. Furthermore, this procedure keeps the costs relatively low, even cheaper than other mini-invasive procedures. 1 Rawlings CA. Laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc, 2002, 38: 15–19 2 Braun L, et al. Gastric dilatation-volvulus in the dog with histological evidence of preexisting inflammatory bowel disease: a retrospective study of 23 cases, J Am An Hosp Assoc, 2006, 32:287 3 Rawlings CA, Mahaffey MB, Bement S., et al: Prospective evaluation of laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy in dogs susceptible to gastric dilation. J Am Vet Med Assoc 221:1576– 1581, 2002 4 Dujowich M, Reimer S.B. Evaluation of an endoscopically assisted gastropexy tecnique in dogs, AJVR, 2008, Vol 69, No 4, pag 537-541 Mini invasive surgery gastropexy, canine, endoscopy