TREATMENT OF GASTRIC DILATATION-VOLVULUS AND A RAPID METHOD FOR PREVENTION OF RELAPSE IN DOGS - 134 CASES (1988-1991)

During a 3.3-year period, gastric dilatation-volvulus was diagnosed in 134 dogs. Thirteen of them died or were euthanatized prior to treatme nt. In 33 dogs, decompression and emptying of the stomach was successf ully performed via a gastric tube. Rate of recurrence was 75.8% (25/33 ) for these dogs. Eighty-eight dogs were treated surgically. In all bu t 1 surgically treated dog, a new technique for gastropexy was perform ed for prevention of relapse. For the 5-cm-long gastropexy, the pylori c antrum was incorporated in the cranial suture of the abdominal wall. Of the surgically treated group, 63 dogs (79.7%) were discharged from the clinic in good condition. Recurrence of gastric dilatation, witho ut evidence of gastric volvulus, 2 (n = 3) and 6 (n = 1) months after surgery, was observed in 6.6% (4/61) of surgically treated dogs with g astric dilatation-volvulus. Four (6.6%) of the 61 dogs died or were eu thanatized because of other causes, but had been without signs of gast ric dilatation within a mean of 19 months after surgery. In the remain ing 53 dogs (86.8%), relapse had not been observed by the end of the f ollow-up period. In dogs with surgical treatment of gastric dilatation -volvulus, recurrence rate (6.6%) was significantly (P < 0.0001) diffe rent from that in those with medical treatment (75.8%). This study ind icated that recurrence of gastric dilatation-volvulus may be prevented with this simple and fast gastropexy technique.