Enucleation or exenteration in two dogs with previous parotid duct transposition: parotid duct ligation versus reverse parotid duct transposition.

Two dogs with previous parotid duct transpositions presented with unrelated ocular disease. In both cases, ophthalmic examination revealed the need for enucleation or exenteration. In case 1, systemic coccidioidomycosis was diagnosed with panuveitis and secondary glaucoma of the left eye. In this case, the parotid duct was ligated at the time of enucleation to stop salivary secretions. This dog encountered morbidity in the form of a sialocele that did not resolve for 11 months. In case 2, ultrasound and computed tomography revealed a discrete mass within the left medial orbit that was suspected to arise from the nictitating membrane. A combination of exenteration and parotid duct transposition reversal was performed to avoid morbidity associated with ligation of the parotid duct. The dog encountered no complications from this novel procedure. This case report represents the first report of re-routing a transposed parotid duct from the ventral conjunctival sac back to the mouth at the time of enucleation or exenteration in the dog.

Gastropexy with an automatic stapling instrument for the treatment of gastric dilatation and volvulus in 20 dogs.

Surgical stapling equipment was used to create a gastropexy in 20 dogs undergoing emergency surgery for gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV). The technique involved creation of a tunnel between the seromuscular layer and the submucosa of the pyloric antrum, and a matching tunnel beneath the right m. transversus abdominis. The arms of a gastrointestinal anastomosis stapling device were introduced into the tunnels, and the device was fired to create the gastropexy. One dog died of systemic sequelae of GDV during the early postoperative period. None of the remaining 19 dogs developed a recurrence of GDV during follow-up periods ranging from 5 to 43 months. In 11 dogs, the integrity of the gastropexy was evaluated by abdominal ultrasonography and either negative contrast gastrography or double contrast gastrography; in these dogs, the radiographic and/or the ultrasonographic findings were suggestive of an intact gastropexy. There were no complications involving the gastropexy staple line. The results of this study indicate that an effective and consistent permanent gastropexy can be created, using surgical stapling equipment.