title: Gastric dilatation volvulus: a retrospective study of 203 dogs with ventral midline gastropexy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the recurrence rate of gastric dilatation volvulus and the incidence of complications in subsequent coeliotomies following ventral midline gastropexy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical records of dogs treated for gastric dilatation volvulus by ventral midline gastropexy were retrospectively reviewed. Owners were contacted and invited to complete a questionnaire and to return to the clinic for ultrasonographic and radiographic follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire was completed by 203 owners 2 to 123 months postoperatively, 24 of whom attended the follow-up examination. Of the 203 dogs, 13 (6 · 4%) underwent subsequent ventral midline coeliotomy and none developed complications related to the gastropexy site. In 23 of the 24 re-evaluated dogs, the stomach was closely associated with the abdominal on radiography and/or ultrasound. The recurrence rate for clinical signs of gastric dilatation or gastric dilatation volvulus after ventral midline gastropexy was 6 · 4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that the recurrence of gastric dilatation volvulus after ventral midline gastropexy is low and adhesion of the stomach to the abdominal wall is persistent in almost all dogs that were re-examined. The gastropexy site did not appear to interfere with subsequent coeliotomy.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, Bünteweg 9, D-30559 Hanover, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ullmann
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, Bünteweg 9, D-30559 Hanover, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seehaus
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, Bünteweg 9, D-30559 Hanover, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hungerbühler
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Small Animal Surgery and Reproduction, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Veterinärstr. 13, D-80539 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyer-Lindenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D013271:Gastric Dilatation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D059485:Gastropexy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013277:Stomach Volvulus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires