34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

This retrospective study assesses outcomes and indicators affecting hospitalization duration after incisional gastropexy for acute gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) at a single institution (2003-2024). We hypothesized that age, duration of start of clinical complaints until surgery and need for adjunctive surgical procedures during the same anesthesia, would impact time to discharge.

Methods:

Hospital records were screened for dogs that received gastropexy for GDV and survived surgery. Surgery related data, outcome, time of symptom onset, start and duration of surgery, anesthesia and hospitalization were investigated. Four groups were formed based on time from end of anesthesia to discharge: group 1 (<24 hours), group 2 (24-48 hours), group 3 (>48 hours) and group 4 (died during postoperative hospitalization).

Results:

In total, 355 dogs were included. Group 1 patients were younger and had shorter surgeries with fewer additional procedures. Group 2 had similar age and surgery times as group 1; however, required more additional procedures. Group 3 patients were older, required more additional procedures and had longer surgeries. Group 4 had ages comparable to groups 1 and 2, required procedures like group 3, and had the longest surgeries.

Conclusions:

Older patients needing additional procedures and longer surgeries had longer hospital stays, while time of day at presentation and complaint duration showed no effect on hospitalization duration. The retrospective nature of the study and varying expertise among numerous surgeons may contribute to data variation. This study may aid surgical decision-making and prognosis expectations.