• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
Veterinary Heroes
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Primary Splenic Torsion in Dogs

April 21, 2016
Laurie Anne Walden, DVM, ELS

A recent study provides details of prognosis, complications, and mortality risk factors in dogs undergoing laparotomy for primary splenic torsion.

A study recently published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association provides details of prognosis, complications, and mortality risk factors in dogs undergoing laparotomy for primary splenic torsion.

Primary splenic torsion (not associated with gastric volvulus) is rare in dogs. This retrospective review included records of 102 dogs at 7 referral hospitals from August 1992 through May 2014. Nearly three-fourths of the dogs with primary splenic torsion were male (half of all dogs were neutered males). Half of the dogs belonged to 1 of 3 breeds: German Shepherd, Great Dane, and English Bulldog. According to the authors, this is the first study to identify the English Bulldog as a breed predisposed to primary splenic torsion.

“Chronic PST [primary splenic torsion] can be a diagnostic challenge in some cases,” write the authors. The most common clinical signs reported were lethargy, anorexia, depression, and vomiting. Initial physical examination results included palpable splenomegaly (69.4% of the dogs), hemoperitoneum (30.6%), and hypovolemic shock (22.5%). Splenomegaly was also evident on abdominal ultrasonography and radiology in most dogs. An abnormal spleen position was detected by ultrasonography in 31.7% of the dogs but by radiology in only 7.4%.

Advertisement

Splenectomy was performed in all but 1 of the dogs included in the review. In the remaining dog, the spleen was derotated and left in place. About two-thirds of the dogs received a prophylactic gastropexy during the operation (4 of the dogs had a preexisting gastropexy). The most common postoperative complications were anemia and ventricular arrhythmias. Results of splenic histopathology were consistent with vascular occlusion in all 79 dogs for whom findings were reported. Splenic neoplasia was not reported in any dog.

Two of the dogs died under general anesthesia; another 7 were euthanized before they were discharged from the hospital. Statistically significant risk factors for death prior to hospital discharge were septic peritonitis, intraoperative hemorrhage, and postoperative respiratory distress.

The researchers were unable to report overall survival time for the study population because dates of death were not available for most dogs. Of the 65 dogs with follow-up data, 49 had received gastropexy (47 during the surgery for primary splenic torsion and 2 preexisting). Subsequent gastric dilatation-volvulus was reported in 1 dog with and 1 dog without gastropexy.

The authors conclude that “the prognosis for dogs undergoing splenectomy for PST [is] favorable” and that monitoring coagulation status may reduce mortality. They suggest that dogs suspected of having primary splenic torsion be evaluated for septic peritonitis prior to laparotomy because it is associated with a higher risk of death, which could influence dog owners’ decisions to proceed with surgery.

Dr. Laurie Anne Walden received her doctorate in veterinary medicine from North Carolina State University in 1994. After an internship at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, she returned to North Carolina, where she has been in companion animal general practice for over 20 years. Dr. Walden is also a board-certified Editor in the Life Sciences and owner of Walden Medical Writing.


Advertisement

Latest News

New technology and products for veterinary genealogy

Reduce your veterinary teams’ stress with financial wellness

Cuban crocodiles receive surgery to extract foreign items

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets joins forces with AVMF

View More Latest News
Advertisement