Gallbladder torsion in an 11-month-old Labrador Retriever

Abstract

An intact male Labrador Retriever was presented with signs of an acute abdomen and generalized weakness. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a distended, horizontally orientated and caudally displaced gallbladder with a thickened wall. Computed tomography (CT) showed an abrupt tapering of the cystic duct in addition to the displacement of the gallbladder.

On laparotomy a complete gallbladder torsion was diagnosed. After cholecystectomy the dog made a full recovery. Gallbladder torsion should be considered as a rare, potential differential diagnosis in dogs with an acute abdomen.

Zusammenfassung

Ein intakter, männlicher Labrador Retriever wurde vorstellig mit Anzeichen eines akuten Abdomens und generalisierter Schwäche. In der abdominalen Sonografie ließ sich eine vergrößerte, horizontal orientierte und nach caudal verlagerte Gallenblase mit verdickter Wandung darstellen. Zusätzlich zur Verlagerung der Gallenblase konnte in der anschließend durchgeführten Computertomographie eine abrupte Verengung des Ductus cysticus dargestellt werden.

In der folgenden Laparotomie wurde eine komplette Gallenblasentorsion diagnostiziert, nach der durchgeführten Cholezystektomie erholte sich der Patient vollständig.

Eine Gallenblasentorsion sollte als seltene, aber potenziell mögliche Differentialdiagnose bei Hunden mit akutem Abdomen in Erwägung gezogen werden.

Key words

Ultrasonography - computed tomography - acute abdomen, laparotomy

Schlüsselwörter

Sonografie - Computertomografie - akutes Abdomen, Laparotomie

Publication History

Received: 22 May 2022

Accepted: 13 January 2023

Article published online:
11 August 2023

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