Left Lateral and Left Middle Liver Lobe Torsion in a Saint Bernard Puppy

Abstract

A 5-month-old, male Saint Bernard was presented for acute collapse and abdominal discomfort. Significant findings were a cranial abdominal mass, hemorrhagic abdominal effusion, anemia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. An exploratory surgery revealed torsion of both the left lateral and middle liver lobes, a condition that has not been previously described in the veterinary literature. Torsion of one or more hepatic lobes is a rare condition but should be considered as a differential diagnosis for acute abdomen syndrome in both young and mature dogs. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention may be curative.

Liver lobe torsion in six horses

“…14 The equine liver is anchored by 6 ligaments 14 ; in humans, congenital absence, disruption, or stretching of these attachments is required to allow torsion of a lobe to occur. The predilection for torsion of the left lateral lobe is less apparent in later reports, 6 and other lobes can be affected. An abnormality of the securing ligaments might have allowed lobe torsion in some of the patients of the present report, although this was not apparent at surgery or necropsy.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] In some cases, affected animals are found dead, probably as a result of septic or hypovolemic shock subsequent to hepatic necrosis. [1][2][3][4][5][6] In some cases, affected animals are found dead, probably as a result of septic or hypovolemic shock subsequent to hepatic necrosis.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] In some cases, affected animals are found dead, probably as a result of septic or hypovolemic shock subsequent to hepatic necrosis. [1][2][3][4][5][6] The duration of disease is often chronic (days), with animals evaluated after acute worsening of nonspecific signs. [1][2][3][4][5][6] The duration of disease is often chronic (days), with animals evaluated after acute worsening of nonspecific signs.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6] Commonly reported historical complaints in affected dogs include lethargy or signs of depression, anorexia, polyuria or polydipsia, and sporadic vomiting. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Signs of pain on palpation of the cranial abdomen are not uncommon but can be absent. Physical examination findings commonly reported for affected dogs are nonspecific but include weakness or recumbency, pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, signs of hypovolemia, and abdominal distention.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Changes in the leukogram are generally consistent with severe inflammation, although the peripheral WBC count can be increased, decreased, or within reference limits. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] In the first report 11 of a horse with liver lobe torsion, there was an increase in sorbitol dehydrogenase activities but ALP, GGT, and aspartate aminotransferase activities were within reference limits. An increase in the number of band neutrophils is not an infrequent finding.…”