Stomach Surgery Flashcards
What are the most common gastric foreign body etiologies? Examples in dogs and cats?
things ingested by patient or penetrating wounds
- DOGS = rocks, toys, anything
- CATS = trichobezoars, needle, string*
What is the most common signalment associated with gastric foreign bodies?
- younger animals (but can be any age)
- previous history of FB ingestion
- pica
What are some conditions that predispose to pica?
- behavioral
- pancreatic exocrine insufficiency
- hepatic encephalopathy
- iron deficiency
What are the most common history and physical exam findings associated with gastric foreign bodies?
HX: observation or history of consumption, vomiting, anorexia, may be asymptomatic
PE: often unremarkable, distended abdomen, dehydrated, hematemesis, melena
What are 6 common findings associated with chronic gastric foreign bodies?
- hemoconcentration (dehydration) or anemia
- pre-renal azotemia
- acidosis: dehydration
- alkalosis: vomiting
- hypokalemia and/or hypochloremia secondary to vomiting
- leukocytosis
How should patients be stabilized before treatment of gastric foreign bodies?
- fluids
- electrolytes
- analgesics
- gastroprotectants
When is emesis contraindicated with gastric foreign bodies? What 2 specific therapies are used?
if FB is obstructive
- LEAD - chelation
- ZINC - transfusion
Where is it preferred to make incisions in the stomach?
- hypovascular area on the ventral aspect
- avoid esophagus and pylorus
(make incisions big enough so the stomach is not traumatized with foreign body removal)
How does the stomach heal? What is the holding layer?
rapidly!
submucosa —> proper apposition results in stronger closure
What enhances formation of the fibrin seal in the stomach?
serosa-to-serosa contact
- water-tight closure is mandatory
What 2 things complicate suturing gastrotomies?
- reduced gastric volume
- reduced tissue pliability
What is the traditional way of closing gastrotomies?
2 layer closure
- Cushing or simple continuous pattern through serosa, muscularis, and submucosa
- oversewn with Lembert or Cushing pattern through serosal and muscularis layers —> further inverts to get a seal
What are some alternate techniques for closing gastrotomies?
- simple continuous in submucosa
- Cushing pattern in seromuscular layers = tighter closure due to better submucosal apposition
- simple continuous in serosa, musclaris, and submucosa
- Cushing pattern in seromuscular layers = more eversion leads to more gastric volume loss
What are the preferred layers of gastrotomy closure?
- simple continuous in just the submucosa or including the serosa, muscularis, and submucosa
- Cushing pattern with a buried suture inverts and provides serosal contact
When is a single layer closure to gastrotomies preferred? Which patterns are used?
reduced gastric volume caused by pyloric outflow tracts or thickened gastric wall
- simple continuous
- simple interrupted
What is congenital pyloric stenosis (gastric outflow obstruction)? In what breeds is it most common?
hypertrophy of circular muscles of the pylorus, causing obstruction of gastric contents
- brachiocephalic breeds < 1 year of age
- rare in Siamese cats
What is thought to be the etiology of pyloric stenosis (gastric outflow obstruction)? What are the most common signs?
excess gastrin
starts at weaning, when puppies/kittens are switching to solid foods
- intermittent vomiting
- normal to decreased body condition
- abdominal distension without pain
How is pyloric stenosis (gastric outflow obstruction) diagnosed?
- RADIOGRAPHS: gastric distention with delayed gastric emptying and “beak” or apple core near the narrow outflow
- ENDOSCOPY: cannot observe the muscle, but will likely see retained ingesta
- ULTRASOUND: layer thickness
What are the 2 treatment options for pyloric stenosis?
- Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy
- Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasty
How is a Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy performed?
- isolate pylorus
- longitudinal incision through seromuscular layer up to the submucosa to cause a submucosa bulge
- leave incision open
seromuscular layers
What are 2 advantages and disadvantages to Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomies?
ADVANTAGES: quick and easy, less chance for contamination
DISADVANTAGES: no lumen exposure for inspection or biopsy, stenosis may recur (possibly only temporary benefit)
How are Heineke-Mikulicz pyloroplasties performed?
- isolate pylorus
- full-thickness longitudinal incision
- place stay sutures at center of incision and orient transversely
- close incision transversely
full thickness