Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus Flashcards
What usually happens to the pylorus during a gastric dilation and volvulus?
- In the vast majority, the pylorus, which is normally on the right, moves ventrally and over to the left side, creating the torsion
What are the three main body systems affected by a GDV?
- Respiratory system
- Cardiovascular
- GI
How is the respiratory system affected by GDV?
- Increased respiratory rate
- Shallow breaths
How is the cardiovascular system affected by GDV?
- Tachycardia
- Pale mucous membranes
- Weak pulses
How is the GI system affected by GDV?
- Non-productive retching
- Abdominal distension
- Abdominal pain
How can GDV lead to stomach necrosis, and what is the consequence of that?
- Compresses gastric wall vessels and wall, obstructing outflow
- This leads to stomach necrosis
- Stomach necrosis can lead to endotoxic septic shock
How does GDV cause hypovolemia, and what are the consequences of that?
- Primarily compressing CVC and portal vein directly (decreased return to the heart)
- In addition, compression of the gastric vessels and wall obstructs outflow, and there is sequestration of fluid
- Ultimately this leads to decreased cardiac output
- Then you get hypotension and decreased perfusion
- Then hypoxia
- Then organ damage and dysfunction
How do you get decreased PaO2, and what is the consequence of that with GDV?
- GDV leads to pressure on the diaphragm
- Decrease tidal volume
- Ventilation/perfusion mismatch
- Decreased PaO2
- Hypoxia
- Organ damage and dysfunction
How do you get DIC and SIRS from GDV?
- It’s a combination of the hypoxia secondary to compression of the CVC and portal vein as well as decreased PaO2 from pressure on the diaphragm
- Additionally endotoxic septic shock from stomach necrosis
- This leads to organ damage and dysfunction, which leads to SIRS and DIC, which further contribute to more organ damage and dysfunction
How do you pancreas necrosis with GDV, and what is a consequence of that?
- It’s a combination of the hypoxia secondary to compression of the CVC and portal vein as well as decreased PaO2 from pressure on the diaphragm
- Additionally endotoxic septic shock from stomach necrosis
- This leads to organ damage and dysfunction, which leads to pancreatic necrosis
- This then leads to release of myocardial depressant factor, which can cause arrhythmias and decreased function of the heart
How do you get kidney failure from GDV, and what are the consequences of that?
- It’s a combination of the hypoxia secondary to compression of the CVC and portal vein as well as decreased PaO2 from pressure on the diaphragm
- Additionally endotoxic septic shock from stomach necrosis
- This leads to organ damage and dysfunction, which leads to kidney failure
- Ultimately the consequence is electrolyte and acid-base imbalances, that can lead to decreased cardiac function and arrhythmias
How do you get decreased heart function and arrhythmias from GDV, and what are the consequences of that?
- It’s a combination of the hypoxia secondary to compression of the CVC and portal vein as well as decreased PaO2 from pressure on the diaphragm
- Additionally endotoxic septic shock from stomach necrosis
- This leads to organ damage and dysfunction, which leads to decreased heart function and arrhythmias
- In addition, myocardial depressant factor released from the heart contributes
- Furthermore, kidney failure from the organ damage leads to electrolyte and acid-base imbalances, which will depress the heart function and cause arrythmias
Look at the chart on page 95
Just do it
Classic presentation of GDV
- Large, deep chested dog with short history (usually hours) of restlessness, depression, non-productive retching, and abdominal distension, progressing to signs of shock
What are the two differentials for the following presentation:
Large, deep chested dog with short history (usually hours) of restlessness, depression, non-productive retching, and abdominal distension, progressing to signs of shock
- Gastric dilatation or gastric dilatation and volvulus
What position should you keep a dog with GDV in and why?
- Keep sternal as much as possible to decrease compression of CVC and portal vein by a distended stomach
What are your top two priorities for a GDV?
1. IVF at shock rate
TREATMENT BEFORE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
What else should be high on the list with a GDV?
- Oxygen, but it won’t get to the tissues well until you relieve the CVC compression and hypovolemia
- As much as possible, administer flow-by O2 as you work on the dog
Fluid type/rate/route for GDV
- 90 mL/kg/hr IV
Where will you place the catheter for GDV? Why?
- Give via catheters in BOTH FRONT LIMBS
- It needs to get to the heart vs back legs which won’t perfuse well
Describe the steps for decompression of a GDV
- +/- sedation (opioid +/- diazepam)
- Mark tube (measure from nose to last rib)
- Lubricate tube
- Roll tape in mouth
- Gentle, DO not force
- If not passing, gently rotate tube, change dog’s position
Where do you measure for decompression via orogastric tube?
- Nose to last rib
If you successfully pass a stomach tube and decompress, what does this tell you about whether or not the stomach is torsed?
- You can still pass a stomach tube if the stomach is torsed
Options if you can’t pass a stomach tube (from most to least preferred)
- Percutaneous gastrocentesis
- Get into surgery ASAP and decompress
- Temporary cutaneous gastrotomy
Describe percutaneous gastrocentesis
- What might you risk hitting?
- Insert 14g needle at most tympanic point
- Risk of hitting the spleen, so pull out if you get blood
Temporary cutaneous gastrotomy - describe
- Rarely done
- Buys time until you can get to a surgeon
- Make a paracostal incision –> suture stomach to the skin –> make incision in stomach and leave open until you go to surgery
Again, what treatments take precedent over everything else (including radiographs) for a GDV?
- Fluids and decompression
What things could you do while setting up fluids and decompressing that are also important?
A. Administer O2 via mask/flow-by right from the start
B. Take blood from the catheter just before hooking up fluids
C. Hook up an EKG (VPCs are common in GDV patients)
D. Monitor blood pressure
E. Medications: Prophylactic antibiotics as there is a high risk of devitalized or contaminated tissue; Analgesia
Labwork for GDV
- Run quick assessment tests
- PCV/TP
- Glucose
- Azo
- Lactate
- CBC (may show low platelets and non-degenerative left shift; lymphopenia)
- Blood gas (may show respiratory acidosis)
- I-Stat (may show hypokalemia)
- PT/PTT (may be prolonged)
- Biochemical profile (want to look at albumin)