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Emergency canine surgery in a deployed forward surgical team: a case report
Alan L Beitler1, Joseph P Jeanette, Andrew L McGraw
1541st Forward Surgical Team (Airborne), Hungarian OMLT, Team Orthos, FOB Khilagay, APO AE 09368.
Military Medicine
|May 5, 2011
Summary
Forward surgical teams (FSTs) can safely perform emergency canine surgery. A military working dog (MWD) with gastric dilatation-volvulus recovered after FST intervention when veterinary care was unavailable.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Surgery
- Military Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Forward surgical teams (FSTs) provide critical surgical care in deployed settings.
- Non-doctrinal functions, including veterinary care, may be required.
- The 541st FST (Airborne) deployed in Afghanistan encountered a case requiring canine surgical intervention.
Observation:
- A 5 1/2-year-old German Shepherd military working dog (MWD) presented with severe lethargy, tachycardia, hypersalivation, and abdominal distension.
- Clinical signs indicated gastric dilatation with volvulus.
- Evacuation to a veterinary facility was not feasible.
Findings:
- Emergency laparotomy was successfully performed by the FST.
- Surgical treatment involved detorsion of the stomach and gastropexy.
- The canine patient experienced a full recovery post-operatively.
Implications:
- This case demonstrates the feasibility and safety of performing veterinary surgery within a deployed FST.
- FSTs may be essential in providing life-saving care for military working dogs when veterinary resources are scarce.
- The findings support the integration of veterinary surgical capabilities into FST protocols for deployed canine units.
