Prophylactic gastropexy has been promoted as a means of preventing gastric volvulus during gastric dilatation and volvulus ( GDV) syndrome. Little is known about the impact of gastropexy on gastrointestinal transit time.
Laparoscopic‐assisted gastropexy ( LAG) will not alter gastrointestinal transit times when comparing gastric ( GET), small and large bowel ( SLBTT), and whole gut transit times ( TTT) before and after surgery.
Prospective clinical trial. Before surgery, all dogs underwent physical examination and diagnostic evaluation to ensure normal health status. Dogs were fed a prescription diet for 6 weeks before determination of gastrointestinal transit with a wireless motility capsule. LAG was then performed, and dogs were fed the diet for 6 additional weeks. Measurement of transit times was repeated 6 weeks after surgery.
Ten dogs of various breeds at‐risk for GDV were enrolled. No complications were encountered associated with surgery or capsule administration. There were no significant differences in GET 429 [306–1,370] versus 541 [326–1,298] ( P = 0.80), SLBTT 1,243 [841–3,070] versus 1,540 [756–2,623] ( P = 0.72), or TTT 1,971 [1,205–3,469] versus 1,792 [1,234–3,343] minutes (median, range) ( P = 0.65) before and after LAG.