Introduction
- Recovery of gastric foreign bodies is the most common indication for gastrotomy. Surgical recovery should only be considered where conservative management is inappropriate or endoscopic retrieval has failed.
- Signs :
- Asymptomatic.
- Vomiting (acute/chronic).
- May be incidental finding during investigation for other diseases.
- Weight loss may occur in chronic cases.
- Diagnosis : history, signs, radiography or gastroscopy.
- Treatment : not all gastric foreign bodies require removal.
- Prognosis : generally very good.
Diagnosis
Clinical signs
- Palpate FB.
- Pain on palpation of abdomen.
- Signs related to chronic vomiting, eg dehydration.
Diagnosis
Differential diagnosis
Other causes of vomiting
- Gastric outflow diseases
. - Hiatus hernia .
- Gastric neoplasia .
- Chronic gastritis .
- Gastric ulceration .
- Intestinal disease.
- Metabolic.
- Edocrine.
- Infections.
- Drugs.
- Toxins.
- Neurological.
- Intra-abdominal disease.
Sequelae
Prognosis
- Good: if damage to gastric mucosa minimal.
- Guarded: if gastric perforation/peritonitis.
Expected response to treatment
- Resolution of vomiting.
- Passage of FB if not surgically removed.
Reasons for treatment failure
- Sharp object perforates stomach → peritonitis → residual gastritis due to trauma.
Sources
Publications
Refereed papers
- Evans K L, Smeak D D & Biller D S (1994) Gastrointestinal linear foreign bodies in 32 days - a retrospective evaluation and feline comparison. JAAHA 30 , 445-450.
Other sources of information
- Twedt D C (1992) Vomiting. In: Veterinary Gastroenterology. N V Anderson (ed), Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia. p 336.
