title: A retrospective study of factors influencing survival following surgery for gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome in 306 dogs.
abstract: Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a life-threatening condition in dogs that has been associated with high mortality rates in previous studies. Factors were evaluated in this study for their influence on overall and postoperative mortality in 306 confirmed cases of GDV between 2000 and 2004. The overall mortality rate was 10%, and the postoperative mortality rate was 6.1%. The factor that was associated with a significant increase in overall mortality was the presence of preoperative cardiac arrhythmias. Factors that were associated with a significant increase in postoperative mortality were postoperative cardiac arrhythmias, splenectomy, or splenectomy with partial gastric resection. The factor that was associated with a significant decrease in the overall mortality rate was time from presentation to surgery. This study documents that certain factors continue to affect the overall and postoperative mortality rates associated with GDV, but these mortality rates have decreased compared to previously reported rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medvet, Inc., Medical Center for Pets, 300 East Wilson Bridge Road, Worthington, Ohio 43085, USA.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barnhart
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: DeHoff
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schertel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D013271:Gastric Dilatation / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013277:Stomach Volvulus / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome