Fundic gastropexy for prevention of recurrence of gastric volvulus

After non-surgical primary treatment (aspiration) of gastric torsion 189 dogs underwent fundupexy to prevent recurrence. The fundic surface of the stomach was subjected to diathermy spot coagulation after which the fundus was fixed in its normal position against the diaphragm using non-absorbable sutures in several rows. Of the 189 dogs operated on two died from intercurrent disease within eight days. Of the 187 dogs which were discharged from the clinic 144 (77 per cent) were available for follow-up. The median follow-up period was 31 months and 28 dogs had a follow-up of between five and eight years. Two of the dogs were destroyed within a year postoperatively because of recurring tympanism and a third dog after one-and-a-half years because of recurrent diarrhoea. The general condition was unaffected in the remaining 141 dogs.