A 25-week-old, male entire, Briard was referred following acute-onset vomiting of 72 hours’ duration. Radiographic and endoscopic investigation revealed a suspected gastro-oesophageal intussusception (GEI). The intussusception was surgically reduced and a left-sided gastropexy and oesodiaphragmatopexy was performed. The patient survived to discharge despite aspiration pneumonia and megaoesophagus, and 12 months following surgery was doing well with only minor regurgitation. GEI is a rare condition with a guarded prognosis, but successful outcomes are possible. To the authors’ knowledge this is the first report of GEI in a Briard.
A juvenile boxer dog was diagnosed with gastroesophageal intussusception that occurred after the induction of emesis with apomorphine. A ventral midline coeliotomy and diaphragmotomy were performed and the intussusception was manually reduced. Despite initial satisfactory recovery, the dog was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade 1 week post-operatively. Escherichia coli was cultured from pericardial and pleural effusion samples. During subtotal pericardiectomy surgery the pericardium was found to be markedly thickened with adhesions to the epicardium, thoracic wall and diaphragm. Substantial haemorrhage and refractory hypotension necessitated the administration of a blood transfusion during surgery. The dog entered cardiac arrest in the immediate post-operative period and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was unfortunately unsuccessful. Gastroesophageal intussusception should be considered a possible severe adverse effect of administering apomorhine to induce emesis in dogs. Additionally, septic pericardial and pleural effusions may occur post-reduction of gastroesophageal intussusception.
Aspiration pneumonia is a relatively common concurrent disease in animals suffering from brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). In addition to surgical correction of anatomical abnormalities, deterioration of respiratory function in these patients may warrant mechanical ventilator support to overcome severe hypoxia, hypoventilation or respiratory fatigue. Ventilation can be a life-saving procedure but is not free from contraindications, including oxygen toxicity. The authors report the successful treatment of a dog in respiratory distress following aspiration after BOAS surgery with short-term mechanical ventilation on 100 per cent oxygen. The patient also presented histamine release signs after administration of amoxicillin clavulanate.
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