Story of Maxwell “X-Ray”

This X-Ray is pathognomonic of Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, also known as ‘Bloat’. For all of you that guessed BLOAT, you are correct! Dogs can bloat without twisting, but the classic appearance (smurf-hat or pop-eye arm) on the x-ray said this was bloat with twist.
Dr. Paxton placed double-bore 18 gauge catheters in both front legs with fluids running as fast as they would go. This is the best treatment for shock; other medications were given for pain and shock. Maxwell was going to need surgery!
You must stabilize the bloated patient with fluids and medications for 2-4 hours before trying to pass a tube and perform surgery.
Fluids and pain meds. made Maxwell much more comfortable over the next couple hours as the Greystone team prepared for surgery. Remind you, this was around midnight!!

Luckily, our intern, soon to be associate, Dr. Amanda Gray, was here to facilitate getting Maxwell to surgery. We also had three technicians here to help, two of whom are our live-in techs. After he stabilized, we sedated him with propofol and intubated and maintained him on isoflurane inhalant anesthesia. Failure to pass a stomach tube confirmed the need to surgically fix Maxwell.

Not going into great detail of surgery… Dr. Paxton and Gray were able to decompress, un-torse, and place everything back where they were supposed to be. A final important detail was the fact that they tacked the stomach so that Maxwell can not bloat AND twist again. He can bloat, but not torse and fall into the same life-threatening emergency. Maxwell woke up quickly after surgery and the team began the second stage of pulling him through. The recovery process… The doctors were able to leave at the early hour of about 4:30 am!! Our live-in techs stayed with him until the morning team arrived.

Maxwell’s story is still not finished, we will let you know how he is doing with a post on Monday! Stay tuned…