Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the use of endoscopy jointly with gastropexy in dogs as a potential mean to aid prevention and evaluation of the long-term efficiency of this procedure for gastric dilatation-volvulus.
The study was performed on ten healthy adult medium- and large-breed dogs. The dogs had no abnormal finding upon physical examination and each underwent an endoscopically assisted gastropexy procedure. After surgery all dogs were in good condition. The surgical procedure was followed by x-ray and ultrasonographic examinations. The records included data for gastropexy anatomic location and length, duration of the surgical procedure and complications.
The mean ± SD gastropexy length was 3.0 ± 0.25 cm, as determined by ultrasonography, and the mean duration of the surgical procedure was 20 ± 5 minutes.
It appears that endoscopically assisted gastropexy is a simple, fast, safe, and reliable method of performing a prophylactic gastropexy in dogs. This procedure maximizes the benefits of decreased morbidity and shorter duration of anaesthesia associated with minimally invasive surgery.