Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus

Signalment

Large deep chested breeds including:

Akitas
Bloodhounds
Collies
Great Danes
Irish Setters
Wolfhounds
Newfoundlands
Rottweilers
Saint Bernards
Standard Poodles
Weirmaraners

Description

Gastric dilatation (GD) and Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) are caused by the stomach distending with air. In GDV the stomach twists around its axis mainly in a clockwise direction with both conditions leading to compression of the caudal vena cava. GDV can lead to hypovolaemic shock, splenic torsion, gastric wall ischaemia, abdominal viscera congestion, endotoxic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The exact pathogenesis is unclear but risk factors for GDV include age, fast eating, once- daily feeding, aerophagia, raised feeding bowl and a close relative with GDV.

Diagnosis

History and Clinical signs

Abdominal distension
Non-productive retching
Weakness
Collapse
Salivation
Abdominal tympany
Tachycardia
Pallor
Hypothermia
Cardiac arrythmias (present in 40-50% of patients) (ventricular premature beats, ventricular tachycardia)

Haematology

Increased haematocrit
DIC (thrombocytopaenia, increased firbin degradation products, prolonged patial thromboplastin time and reduced antithrombin III.)

Biochemistry

Most commonly find hypokalaemia and metabolic acidosis. The acidosis is caused hypoperfusion and anaerobic metabolism leading to lactic acid accumulation. Respiratory acidosis and alkalosis may also be present due to hypo- and hyperventilation.

Diagnostic imaging

Best performed after fluid therapy and gastric decompression. It allows distinction between GD and GDV:

Gastric dilatation: gas distension, on right lateral shows air in the fundus.
Gastric dilatation and volvulus: pylorus moves dorsally and left with a compartmentalized stomach.

A right lateral view will show a large fundus ventrally, with a smaller gas filled pylorus located dorsally to that. These are seperated by a soft tissue strip. The contrast of the abdomen may be lost indicating peritonitis or haemoabdomen. Gastric rupture would show as pneumoperitoneum and increased contrast.

Treatment

The most important first line treatments are fluid therapy and gastric decompression.

Fluid therapy

Should be individualised to the patient due to the varying nature of the acid-base disturbances. Large bore (16 or 18 gauge) catheters should be placed into cephalic or jugular veins (ideally two into both cephalic veins). Shock doses of Compound Sodium Lactate (Lactated Ringer's Solution) (60-90ml/kg/h). Hypertonic saline can also be used. Monitoring of the situation should be done by regular blood pressure measurements, heart rates, PCV and total solids and urine output. Potassium can be supplemented to bags in the form of KCl after the initial shock doses.

Gastric decompression

Performed by introduction of a lubricated premeasured (from nostril to last rib) stomach tube or by trocharizing the most tympanic area caudal to the ribs with a 14 to 16 gauge catheter. Sedation may be required to allow the passage of the stomach tube. Suitable drugs for this include butorphanol, fentanyl or oxymorphone and diazepam.

Other treatment

For shock: Prednisolone sodium succinate or dexamethasone sodium phosphate.
For bacterial translocation and endotoxaemia: Broad spectrum antibiotics (e.g. cephalosporin and a fluoroquinolone) should also be given at surgical induction through to the postoperative period.
For cardiac arrythmias: indicated if weakness, syncope, tachycardia runs with R on T complexes, ventricular tachycardia at rates >150bpm. Treated by correcting acid-base, electrolyte and haemostatic disturbances. The treatment is lidocaine by bolus or continuous rate infusion or procainamide if they persist.
For analgesia: Pure opioid of morphine, methadone or fentanyl.
General: Oxygen supplementation if possible

Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia must be carried out with care even after the patient has been stabilised. There are limited protocols but included fentanyl and diazepam bolus or titrated propofol. Maintenance can be achieved with the use of isoflurane and sevoflurane in oxygen however nitrous oxide should be avoided due to third spacing. Regular routine monitoring of urine production, blood pressure, central venous pressure, PCV, total solids, blood gas and serum electrolytes. High rates of fluids should be used to maintain tissue perfusion and arterial blood pressure.

Surgery

Surgical aims include:

Gastric decompression and repositioning
Assessing the organ viability
Removing necrotic tissue
Gastropexy (can perform incisional, tube, belt-loop and circumcostal techniques) to prevent recurrence

If gastric necrosis (happens in 10-37% of patients) is present (discoloured dark purple or grey/green, don't bleed when incised or feel paper thin) then a parital gastrectomy is required. Damage to the spleen via avulsion or torsion may need partial or complete splenectomy.

Post-operative complications

These are wide and varied and include:

Hypoperfusion
Hypotension
Cardiac arrythmias
Aspiration pneumonia
Abnormal gastric motility
Gastric necrosis
DIC
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)

Prognosis

Simple GDV mortality rates are around 15%. Patients suffering from gastric necrosis, gastric resection or splenectomy have a higher mortality rate at over 30%. Gastric necorsis can be predicted by measuring plasma lactate. Values >6mmol/l indicates necrosis (Specificity 88%, Sensitivity 66%)

References

Hall, E.J, Simpson, J.W. and Williams, D.A. (2005) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd Edition) BSAVA

King, L. and Hammond, R. (1999) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Emergency and Critical Care BSAVA

Tivers, M. and Brockman, D. (2009) [dilation–volvulus syndrome in dogs 1. Pathophysiology, diagnosis and stabilisation] 31(2):66 In Practice

Tivers, M. and Brockman, D. (2009) [dilation–volvulus syndromein dogs 2. Surgical and postoperative management] 31(3):114 In Practice