A Laparoscopic-Sutured Gastropexy Technique In Dogs: Mechanical and Functional Evaluation DIDIER H. MATHON, DVM, PhD, OLIVIER DOSSIN, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVIM-CA, SOPHIE PALIERNE, DVM, PhD, MATTHIEU CREMOUX, DVM, HERIBERTO RODRIGUEZ, DVM, PATRICIA MEYNAUD-COLLARD, DVM, PhD, JOERG M. STEINER, DVM, PhD Diplomate ACVIM & ECVIM-CA, JAN S. SUCHODOLSKI, DVM, PhD, HERVE P. LEFEBVRE, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVPT, and ANDRE AUTEFAGE, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVS Objective—To describe a laparoscopic-sutured gastropexy technique in dogs and evaluate the ten- sile strength of the adhesion and effects on gastric function. Study Design—Experimental study. Animals—Female beagle dogs (n ¼ 7). Methods—A laparoscopic-sutured gastropexy technique was evaluated by ex vivo tensile distraction tests 10 weeks after surgery. The effect of the adhesion on gastric emptying, mucosal permeability, and systemic inflammation were evaluated by monitoring the C-reactive protein (CRP) and sucrose permeability, and by radiographic evaluation of gastric emptying 2 weeks before and 10 weeks after surgery. Results—Mean (  SD) tensile force to disrupt adhesions was 51.1  16.4 N. There was no sig- nificant postoperative increase in CRP concentration or change in sucrose permeability. The area under the curve representing the postprandial decrease in gastric radiographic area increased by 11% after gastropexy. Conclusions—This laparoscopic gastropexy technique had appropriate mechanical and functional characteristics with limited morbidity. Clinical Relevance—This laparoscopic-sutured gastropexy provides adhesion strength comparable with other gastropexy techniques tested at 10 weeks postoperatively. Only minor changes in gastric emptying were observed 10 weeks after surgery. r Copyright 2009 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons INTRODUCTION P ROPHYLACTIC GASTROPEXY to prevent recur- rence of gastric-dilatation volvulus (GDV) 1–4 has been recommended in any dog with a history of gastric dilation 3,4 and in young deep-chested, large-breed dogs at risk of developing GDV. 5 Laparoscopic gastropexy in- duces less morbidity than gastropexy via celiotomy. 6,7 Minimally invasive gastropexy techniques either as lap- aroscopic procedures, 8,9 gastroscopic- or laparoscopic- assisted procedures, 10 or via mini-laparotomy 11–13 have been reported. The trend in laparoscopic surgery is to develop tech- niques that are efficient, fast, easy, and with low morbid- ity. 13 Although the mechanical characteristics and clinical outcomes of gastropexy have been reported, 5,8,12 there is little information about gastric function after laparoscopic gastropexy. 14 We hypothesized that gastropexy should change gastric emptying and absorption mechanisms be- cause of potential iatrogenic duodenogastric reflux. Our purpose is to describe a laparoscopic-sutured gas- tropexy technique, to evaluate tensile strength of the gas- tropexy adhesion and to investigate effects on gastric permeability, systemic inflammation, and motility. Corresponding author: Didier H. Mathon, DVM, PhD, Surgery, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Ecole Nationale Ve´ te´ rinaire de Toulouse, 23 chemin des Capelles, BP 87614, F-31076 Toulouse Cedex 3, France. E-mail: d.mathon@envt.fr. Submitted April 2008; Accepted July 2009 From the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Ecole Nationale Ve´ te´ rinaire de Toulouse, France and the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. r Copyright 2009 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons 0161-3499/09 doi:10.1111/j.1532-950X.2009.00592.x 967 Veterinary Surgery 38:967–974, 2009