Splenic infarction in 16 dogs: a retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Canine Pathology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Splenic infarction in dogs, excluding splenic torsion, is frequently linked to concurrent diseases.
• Hypercoagulable states, liver disease, renal disease, hyperadrenocorticism, splenomegaly, neoplasia, and cardiovascular disease-associated thrombosis are common associations.
• Clinical signs and lab findings often mirror the primary underlying condition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causes, clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and outcomes of splenic infarction in dogs.
• To evaluate the efficacy and mortality associated with surgical management of splenic infarction.
• To determine the prognostic indicators and appropriate treatment strategies for splenic infarction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 16 dogs diagnosed with splenic infarction (excluding splenic torsion).
• Analysis of medical records, including clinical signs, laboratory results, diagnostic imaging (abdominal ultrasound), surgical procedures, and outcomes.
• Correlation of splenic infarction with underlying systemic diseases and hypercoagulable conditions.

Main Results:

• Dogs with splenic infarction commonly presented with multiple concurrent diseases.
• Surgical management of splenic infarction was associated with a high mortality rate (7 out of 12 dogs died postoperatively).
• Abdominal ultrasound detected splenic abnormalities in 15 dogs, with the spleen's ventral extremity most frequently affected.

Conclusions:

• Splenic infarction should be viewed as a sign of altered blood flow and coagulation, not a primary disease.
• Surgical intervention for splenic infarction is best reserved for life-threatening complications like hemoabdomen or sepsis.
• Conservative management or treatment of the underlying disease is often warranted, with surgery reserved for severe, complicated cases.