What is a prophylactic gastropexy?
A prophylactic gastropexy is usually a non-emergency preventive surgical procedure in which a dog’s stomach is surgically attached to the inner muscle (transversus abdominis muscle) of the abdominal wall.
Why are prophylactic gastropexies performed?
A condition occurs in some dogs in which the stomach twists or flips, cutting off the blood supply to this organ and other portions of the digestive tract. When it occurs, it is life-threatening and usually requires an emergency surgery. This condition has several names. The medical term is gastrointestinal dilatation and volvulus (GDV). This is also commonly called “bloat,” although technically the bloat is the dilatation of the stomach. (This is an important distinction since animals can still bloat even if they’ve had a gastropexy, but this is most commonly a medical emergency rather than a surgical emergency.) GDV is most common in large, deep chested dogs such as Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Samoyeds, Weimaraners, Irish Setters, Gordon Setters, Standard Poodles, Basset Hounds, Doberman Pinschers, and Old English Sheepdogs, but can occur in any breed. A veterinary surgeon will perform the gastropexy preventively to help keep GDV from happening.
Why perform a prophylactic gastropexy laparoscopically?
In a laparoscopic prophylactic gastropexy, the skin incision for the procedure is typically 25-50mm. This is much smaller than the incision made for a conventional open approach. The laparoscope with its integrated camera allows the surgeon to isolate the area of the stomach to be sutured to the body wall. The selected area of the stomach is grasped and surgically attached to the muscle at the previously mentioned incision. This forms a permanent adhesion (scar) that prevents the stomach from flipping. This minimally invasive laparoscopic approach to prophylactic gastropexies often contributes to faster recoveries and less surgical discomfort. Many pets go home the same day, requiring only minimal pain medication.
How does a veterinarian perform a laparoscopic-assisted prophylactic gastropexy?
This procedure video is provided by Biovision Veterinary Endoscopy, a leading manufacturer of equipment that enables veterinarians to perform minimally-invasive diagnostic and surgical procedures.
Video: Laparoscopic-Assisted Prophylactic Gastropexy
SENSITIVE CONTENT WARNING: Before you watch this video, you should be aware that it shows a surgical procedure on a dog. Although minimal, there is some blood shown. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to see something like that, we advise you to skip this video. Video has no sound.
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