A COMPARISON OF LAPAROSCOPIC AND BELT-LOOP GASTROPEXY IN DOGS

A simplified technique for laparoscopic gastropexy (group 1) was compa red to belt-loop gastropexy (group 2) in eight adult male dogs randoml y divided into two groups of four dogs each. Our hypothesis was that a satisfactory laparoscopic gastropexy would approximate the strength a nd operative time required for belt-loop gastropexy. Operative time, s urgical complications, postoperative morbidity, gross and histological appearance, radiographic microvascularization, and maximal tensile st rength were measured and compared between the two groups. All dogs rec overed from surgery. No morbidity was associated with either procedure . The mean (+/-SD) duration of surgery was 69.75 +/- 7.23 minutes for group 1 and 58.75 +/- 7.63 minutes for group 2. Fifty days after surge ry, the microvascular appearance of the gastropexy site was similar fo r both groups. Blood vessels were observed within each seromuscular fl ap but vascular ingrowth to the abdominal musculature was observed in only two dogs, one from each group. The maximum tensile strength at 50 days was 76.55 +/- 22.78 for group 1 and 109.21 +/- 22.29 N for group 2. Differences between surgical duration and maximum tensile strength were not statistically significant (P > .05). Histologically, all gas tropexies consisted of an adhesion composed of dense fibrous connectiv e tissue. The results of this study indicate that laparoscopic gastrop exy provides a minimally invasive alternative to open abdominal prophy lactic gastropexy in dogs. (C)Copyright 1996 by The American College o f Veterinary Surgeons