Retrospective study of complications associated with surgically-placed gastrostomy tubes in 43 dogs with septic peritonitis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety of surgically-placed gastrostomy feeding tubes in dogs with septic peritonitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 43 dogs with septic peritonitis that had undergone surgical exploration and gastrostomy tube (de Pezzer or Foley) placement as part of the surgical procedure. Postoperative recovery times, hospitalisation times, complication rates and overall survival times were documented. RESULTS: The most common cause of septic peritonitis was dehiscence of an enterotomy or enterectomy site. Fifteen dogs had a Foley gastrostomy tube placed and 28 had a de Pezzer gastrostomy tube placed. The median time from surgery to the start of enteral nutrition was 16 hours (range 3 to 28 hours). There were no major complications relating to the gastrostomy tube; minor complications occurred in 11 (26%) patients. The overall median time spent in hospital was 5 days (range 3 to 29 days) for patients surviving to discharge and 22 (51%) dogs survived overall. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Gastrostomy feeding tubes provide a safe way to provide enteral nutrition to dogs with septic peritonitis; they are associated with a low complication rate in these patients.

Impact of intra-operative hypotension on mortality rates and post-operative complications in dogs undergoing cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To report the mortality rate within a cohort of dogs undergoing cholecystectomy and investigate the impact of intra-operative hypotension on mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical records at five UK referral centres were reviewed for dogs undergoing cholecystectomy. Data collected included presenting signs, pre-operative blood test results, intra-operative data including frequency and duration of hypotension and the incidence and type of post-operative complications. RESULTS: Data from 119 dogs were included. Sixteen dogs (13%) died before discharge and by 28 days after surgery the total mortality was 19 dogs (17%). Hypotension lasting over 10 minutes during general anaesthesia occurred in 65 dogs (54.6%), with a mean ± sd duration of 36.1 ± 30.0 minutes. Intra-operative hypotension or the number of hypotensive episodes did not appear to be associated with in-hospital or 28-day mortality. American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade (of fitness for surgery) was significantly associated with both in-hospital and 28-day mortality on univariable analysis, as were post-operative hypoproteinaemia, ileus and pancreatitis. However on multivariable analysis, only ileus and pancreatitis were found to significantly impact mortality. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dogs presenting with a higher American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade appear to have a higher risk of mortality, although intra-operative hypotension did not appear to be part of this risk.