Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

Re: Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

Jessica Fawkes — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 05:56:53 GMT

I went to a conference/ CPD event on abdominal surgery and we were told that a risk factor for GDV was stress. Anxious dogs more at risk, and stressful triggers (such as any surgery). We were advised that any at risk breed be warned re the risk before admission into kennels/ hospital etc as apparently Gastric Dilation +/- volvulus is not that uncommon in hospitalised dogs. I don't think anything you did increased the chance of an occurence, beyond having the dog there in the first place. We were talking about all the risk factors (usual suspects), but anaesthetic/ drugs per se didn't rate a mention.

Re: Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

Elizabeth Smith — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 22:33:17 GMT

Thanks very much to those who have commented....very interesting to hear other people's experiences. He went home ok, owner is ok-ish about it but wants a reason to why it happened which is difficult to explain. I think i would feel pretty confused bringing in a healthy puppy for a routine op that then needed major abdominal surgery

The owner had spoken to another vet who told him there is an anaesthetic that can 'reduce gut transit time' and he was questioning whether this can cause a build up of gas? He couldn't remember the name so has taken a copy of his notes to get more advise. All I could say is that we use a combination of propofol/isofluorane between 3-6 times every working day and it's never happened before.

All been rather stressful but feel confident that we did nothing wrong and I'm relieved the puppy is ok (so far!!) and hope this is my once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Thanks again!

Re: Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

Stephen Courtney — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 23:03:15 GMT

When I was a 5th year vet student I was given a bitch to spay for a surgical practical - this was my first ever spay. She bloated on the table, which was more a surprise to the tutor than me, being bright green as i was, it didn't seem to be a huge drama. She got spayed and had a gastrotomy as well, took me ages to realise it was an unusual way to spay a bitch.....

Re: Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

Laurence Webb — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:52:54 GMT

We had it in a Basset (is there a pattern developing!) that was hospitalised for several days due to pseudomonas otitis and was having twice daily ear flushing. After an initial GA to flush the ears properly further flushes were done with an Auriflush conscious. I think it developed the GDV after 5-6 days.

We put it down to stress in a predisposed animal and possible aerophagia as it would periodically decide to bark or howl for a while.

Unrelated, but I had a GDV in at 16wk Akita 2 months ago. That's the youngest I've come across.

Re: Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

Amanda Nicholls — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 21:34:06 GMT

Have seen it once in a Boxer dog post castration, I assumed it was due to the dog being agitated in the kennel, panting and swallowing air??? I always called owners to collect nervous dogs fairly soon after they had woken up after that - and it was much better than listening to dogs barking all afternoon!

Re: Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

Joyce Whitehead — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:09:02 GMT

I haven't seen it, but have heard of it from a VN who used to work for us, and that was a Basset Hound. She said it developed shortly after full awakening, and it made her very wary when Bassets were waking up.

I think it is bad luck - but is this Bulldog a typical brachycephalic who might have been therefore mouth breathing/panicking on recovery and swallowing a lot of air?

Re: Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

bob lehner — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:06:54 GMT

I have come across quite a few vet nurses who are paranoid about how to turn a dog over when it is under g.a. If the dog is laying on one side and needs to be turned to lay on the other side, they insist you must do so by rotating the body over the legs - rather than flipping the legs over the body (if you see what I mean). They say this will reduce any risk of a gastric torsion developing.

Not sure if this is valid - but someone must be teaching it at nurse school (and possibly at vet school for all I know).

Re: Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:04:45 GMT

Combination of bad luck and mouth breathing

Wynne

Re: Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

Richard Carter — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:43:23 GMT

Sounds unlucky - if you think of the rolling onto the back for an extended period with the stomach and gastric sphincter now in an inverted position more of a wonder why it doesn't happen more frequently. Was the dog properly starved or had they given him his treat in the morning? I have now seen 3 gastric torsions where the common factor was one of those brightly coloured chews. 2 were in dogs where the owners had seen GVD before and were already fermentation aware, low starch diets, feeding small amounts etc etc.

Re: Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:19:40 GMT

We had a Bassett hound do this. My boss performed a routine op (think mammary tumour removal) and the dog had awful stumpy veins, so he used medetomidine/ketamine IM and op under O2/iso. GA was fine but owner brought dog in next morning with a GDV. Took it to surgery but I think the dog died.

I will have a look on the computer tomorrow and get you a few more details. This was an elderly dog. Boss blamed the ketamine as we don't usually use it in dogs!

Re: Gastric Dilatation after a routine op!

Vet2Vet — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:00:40 GMT

hi elizabeth , I have never experienced or heard of this . Hope everything works out fine for this dog . Well done to the team !