Lucerne Veterinary Hospital Services Laparoscopic Assisted Gastropexy

Laparoscopic- Assisted Gastropexy
Surgical prevention
of life-threatening gastric dilation and volvulus

Veterinarians
Chris A. Miles, DVM, DABVP
Stephanie G. Monk, DVM

Hours
7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday

Location
2230 Main Road (Route 1A)
in Dedham, Maine

Telephone
207-843-6300

Fax
207-843-6350

Emergency services
For after-hours and weekend care, contact:
Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic
15 Dirigo Drive
Brewer, Maine
207-989-6267

Gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV) is a frequently fatal emergency of large dogs. It is also referred to as "bloat" and is a condition in which the stomach becomes distended with gas and fluid and twists on itself. Once the stomach twists, the blood supply to the stomach is compromised and the stomach tissue quickly dies.

Approximately 25% of dogs which develop GDV die.

Gastropexy is the term for a surgical procedure to attach the stomach to the body wall effectively preventing the stomach from twisting. Dogs that have had a gastropexy can still develop a dilated and gas-filled stomach, but the life-threatening twist is very rare. Recently, surgical techniques

have been developed which allow a gastropexy to be performed with laparoscopy. The benefits of a laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy include:

¨ Less pain since the surgery is done with 2 small incisions only
¨ Shorter surgery and anesthesia time
¨ Quick recovery
¨ Patient can go home the day of the surgery
¨ Reduced surgical complication rate over open techniques
¨ Less expensive than treating life-threatening GDV

Breeds that are susceptible to GDV and should be considered for preventative gastropexy include:

¨ Great Danes (1 in 2 or 3 Danes will bloat in their lifetime)
¨ Standard Poodles
¨ Irish Wolfhounds
¨ Bloodhounds
¨ German Shepherds
¨ Burnese Mountain Dogs
¨ Saint Bernards
¨ Mastiffs
¨ Akita
¨ Rottweiler
¨ Weimeraner
¨ Newfoundland
¨ Large breed, deep chested dogs of any breed