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Effect of Laparoscopic-assisted Gastropexy on Gastrointestinal Transit Time in Dogs
I M Balsa1, W T N Culp1, K J Drobatz2
1Departments of Veterinary Surgical and Radiological Sciences, (Balsa, Culp, Johnson, Mayhew), and Medicine and Epidemiology (Marks), School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
Background:
Prophylactic gastropexy has been promoted as a means of preventing gastric volvulus during gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) syndrome. Little is known about the impact of gastropexy on gastrointestinal transit time.
Hypothesis:
Laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy (LAG) will not alter gastrointestinal transit times when comparing gastric (GET), small and large bowel (SLBTT), and whole gut transit times (TTT) before and after surgery.
Animals:
10 healthy client-owned large-breed dogs.
Methods:
Prospective clinical trial. Before surgery, all dogs underwent physical examination and diagnostic evaluation to ensure normal health status. Dogs were fed a prescription diet for 6 weeks before determination of gastrointestinal transit with a wireless motility capsule. LAG was then performed, and dogs were fed the diet for 6 additional weeks. Measurement of transit times was repeated 6 weeks after surgery.
Results:
Ten dogs of various breeds at-risk for GDV were enrolled. No complications were encountered associated with surgery or capsule administration. There were no significant differences in GET 429 [306-1,370] versus 541 [326-1,298] (P = 0.80), SLBTT 1,243 [841-3,070] versus 1,540 [756-2,623] (P = 0.72), or TTT 1,971 [1,205-3,469] versus 1,792 [1,234-3,343] minutes (median, range) (P = 0.65) before and after LAG.
Conclusions And Clinical Importance:
An effect of LAG on gastrointestinal transit time was not identified, and wireless motility capsule can be safely administered in dogs after LAG.
