Canine intestinal intussusception following renal and pancreatic transplantation

In 138 mongrel dogs given renal transplants, 10 developed postoperative intussusceptions. The sites were jejunojejunal (seven), ileo-ileal (two) and ileocolic (one). In 30 puppies given intrasplenic autografts of dispersed pancreatic fragments after total pancreatectomy, five developed jejunojejunal intussusceptions. Presenting signs included vomiting, failure to eat, periodic attacks of pain, straining with the passage of bloodstained mucous, dehydration, weight loss, abdominal wall rigidity and an abdominal mass. The majority of dogs presented within the first seven days following transplantation, occasionally as late as the third week. Early operative intervention was essential to save the dogs and at laparotomy eight of nine intussusceptions were successfully reduced manually; one small bowel resection was performed for irreducibility. Recurrence was not observed in this series but reoperation in the puppies was invariably fatal. Factors contributing to the development of intussusception in the puppies included round worm infestation, recent dietary change following weaning, malabsorption and diarrhoea due to pancreatic insufficiency following pancreatectomy and respiratory infections suggesting an infective origin for the intussusceptions.