Experimently induced torsion of spleen and its treatment in canines

Abstract

Eighteen apparently healthy dogs of either sex, aged one to five years and weighing 10-15 kg were used for the study. All the dogs were dewormed and examined for the presence of blood parasites if any. They were housed separately in cages under identical conditions of feeding and management and kept under observation for 10 days before the experiments.

The animals were divided into two groups as detailed below:

Group A: Consisting of six animals numbered serially, viz. A(1), A(2), A(3), A(4), A(5) and A(6) and

Group B: Consisting of 12 animals divided into two subgroups of six animals each and numbered serially, viz. B1(1), B1(2), B1(3), B1(4), B1(5) and B1(6) and B2(1), B2(2), B2(3), B2(4), B2(5) and B2(6).

In the animals of group A, laparotomy was performed and torsion of the spleen was brought about. The observations made in this group served (i) to assess the clinic-pathological changes and (ii) to arrive at appropriate time for the commencement of treatment in group B. In the animals of group B, effectiveness of treatment, following experimently induced torsion of the spleen was studied. In the subgroup B1, detorsion of the spleen was done while in subgroup B2, splenectomy was performed.

The animals became dull and recumbent by six hours after experimentally induced torsion of the spleen and remained recumbent till death. The mucous membrane was pale and the capillary refilling time was prolonged. A significant increase in the heart rate, band cell count and serum potassium and a significant decrease in blood pressure, central venous pressure, lymphocyte count and eosinophil count was observed by the ninth hour after torsion. It could be seen that the period from sixth to the ninth hour after torsion of the spleen would be critical and hence the appropriate time to commence the treatment was fixed at six hours after torsion.

In group B, where effectiveness of the treatment was studied, only one animal survived after detorsion in subgroup B1 whereas all the animals survived after splenectomy in sub group B2. In subgroup B1, after detorsion most of the animals were recumbent, the extremities were cold and they did not take food and water, whereas in subgroup B2, after splenectomy all the animals were able to stand and they took food and water. The heart rate showed a decreasing trend in both the subgroups. Blood pressure showed a decrease at sixth hour followed by an increase in both the subgroups. Central venous pressure showed an increase at sixth hour followed by a decrease upto 18 hous and then an increase at 24 hours in subgroup B1, whereas in subgroup B2, it increased gradually. Packed cell volume and haemoglobin content decreased in both the subgroups. The serum potassium level remained high in both the subgroups.