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 treatment. In 33 dogs, decompression and emptying of the stomach was successfully performed via a gastric tube. Rate of recurrence was 75.8% (25/33) for these dogs. Eighty-eight dogs were treated surgically. In all but 1 surgically treated dog, a new technique for gastropexy was performed for prevention of relapse. For the 5-cm-long gastropexy, the pyloric 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, without 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 gastric dilatation-volvulus. Four (6.6%) of the 61 dogs died or were euthanatized because of other causes, but had been without signs of gastric dilatation within a mean of 19 months after surgery. In the remaining 53 dogs (86.8%), relapse had not been observed by the end of the follow-up period. In dogs with surgical treatment of gastric dilatation-volvulus, recurrence rate (6.6%) was significantly (P < 0.0001) different from that in those with medical treatment (75.8%). This study indicated that recurrence of gastric dilatation-volvulus may be prevented with this simple and fast gastropexy technique.