34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) is associated with a postoperative mortality rate up to 16.5%. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is diagnosed in up to 59% of dogs with GDV and is a risk factor for mortality. This study aimed to assess if the development of DIC can be predicted based on preoperative blood parameters.

Methods:

Medical files of dogs that underwent GDV surgery were retrospectively evaluated and preoperative blood analyses were collected. The number of dogs that developed clinically overt DIC and died of GDV-related complications and DIC specifically were noted. Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to determine if hematology and coagulation times could predict the development of DIC.

Results:

On a total of 183 dogs, 36 (19.7%) developed DIC. Thirty dogs (16.4%), of which 22 were diagnosed with DIC (73.3%), died. The 36 dogs that developed DIC had significantly lower platelet counts (p=0.001) and significantly longer coagulation times (prothrombin time: p=0.046; activated partial thromboplastin time: p=0.028). In 25 dogs that developed DIC, both hematology and coagulation times were available: six of these dogs (24.0%) had preoperatively a normal platelet count and normal coagulation times, nevertheless 5/6 dogs died within ten hours after surgery.

Conclusions:

Despite significant differences in preoperative blood parameters between dogs that did and those that did not develop DIC after GDV surgery, in one fourth of dogs preoperative platelet count and coagulation times could not predict the development of DIC. More sensitive coagulation tests such as thromboelastography might increase early diagnosis of DIC and improve outcomes.