SPLENIC INFARCTION IN 16 DOGS - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Sixteen dogs with splenic infarction due to causes other than splenic torsion were identified, Dogs with splenic infarction often had multip le concurrent diseases, and surgical management of splenic infarction was associated with high mortality, Splenic infarction occurred in dog s with hypercoagulable conditions associated with liver disease. renal disease, and hyperadrenocorticism, or as a consequence of uniform spl enomegaly, neoplasia, or thrombosis associated with cardiovascular dis ease, Clinical signs and common laboratory findings generally reflecte d the underlying disease process, A variety of splenic abnormalities w ere detected by abdominal ultrasound in 15 dogs, with the ventral extr emity of the spleen being most often abnormal, Four dogs were euthaniz ed or died because of the presence of severe systemic disease, whereas 12 dogs underwent laparotomy. Complete splenectomy was performed in 9 dogs and partial splenectomy was performed in 2 dogs, Seven dogs died in the immediate postoperative period. 3 required chronic veterinary care, and 2 had uncomplicated long-term recoveries. Splenic infarction should be regarded as a sign of altered blood flow and coagulation, r ather than as a primary disease, and surgical management should be res erved for patients with life-threatening complications such as hemoabd omen or sepsis. Copyright (C) 1995 by the American College of Veterina ry Internal Medicine.