Post-mortem diagnosis of gastric dilatation volvulus syndrome in dogs / Diagnóstico post mortem da síndrome dilatação vólvulo gástrica em cães

ABSTRACT

Background: Gastric dilatation volvulus syndrome (GDV) is an acute and severe disease affecting specially dogs of big breeds. It is a severe illness, which may have a high risk of death if not treated quickly. GDV consists in stomach acute dilatation and rotation, resulting in decrease of gastric and splenic infusion, in addition to the obstruction of abdominal venous return. The aim of this research was to analyze clinical pathological findings of dogs with GDV diagnosis in which necropsy was performed. Materials, Methods & Results: The necropsy records were reviewed from January 2001 to December 2011 to identify these cases. In the period, 4877 autopsies were performed by the Setor de Patologia Veterinária from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), being 55 cases (1.15%) of GDV. Four main breeds were identified Fila Brasileiro (43.6%), Great Dane (12.7%), German Shepherd (10.9%) and Boxer (5.4%). Clinical signs such as bloating, lethargy and dyspnoea were reported. At necropsy, the findings that consisted with gastric alterations were stomach distention due to accumulation of gas, dark red mucosa, and rotations of 90 to 360 especially clockwise. Splenomegaly was observed in 96.36% of dogs and V-shaped spleen in 60%. There was compressive atelectasis in 38.18% of autopsies. The main histological findings in the stomach were characterized by congestion, hemo

RESUMO

Síndrome dilatação vólvulo gástrica (DVG) é uma enfermidade comum em cães, principalmente, nos de grande porte. É uma enfermidade grave, com alto risco de óbito caso não seja realizado um rápido tratamento clínico e/ou cirúrgico. A taxa de mortalidade varia entre 10 a 45%. A DVG consiste na dilatação aguda e na rotação do estômago, o que resulta num quadro de diminuição da perfusão gástrica e esplênica, além da obstrução do retorno venoso abdominal. Complicações da DVG ocorrem em pouco tempo, como necrose da parede do estômago, arritmias ventriculares, coagulopatias, desenvolvimento de choque hipovolêmico, acidose metabólica e hipocalemia. Inúmeros fatores são citados como predisponentes da síndrome, dentre eles maior ocorrência em caninos de porte grande ou gigante, cães de raças de tórax profundo, aerofagia, alimentação excessiva, flacidez de ligamento gastrohepático, exercício pós-prandial e o acometimento de animais mais velhos. [...]