Barbed gastropexy matched standard outcomes in dogs with GDV

CURRENT BRIEF VERSION: Dogs treated surgically for gastric dilatation-volvulus at Cornell had similar short-term outcomes whether surgeons used an open right-sided barbed suture gastropexy or a standard right-sided incisional gastropexy, according to a retrospective cohort study published in Veterinary Surgery. The study reviewed 121 client-owned dogs, including 58 treated with barbed suture gastropexy and 63 with standard incisional gastropexy. Perioperative mortality was 5.79% overall, with no significant difference between groups, and recurrence of GDV or gastric dilatation without volvulus also did not differ. The main procedural difference was time: when gastropexy was the only procedure performed, barbed suture cases were completed faster, at 53.3 minutes versus 62.6 minutes for standard incisional gastropexy. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary surgeons and emergency teams managing GDV, the findings suggest barbed suture gastropexy may offer a practical time-saving option without an apparent tradeoff in perioperative complications or recurrence, at least in this retrospective dataset. That matters in a disease where rapid stabilization and surgery are central to outcomes, and where gastropexy is recommended as part of surgical correction to reduce recurrence risk. The study also found postoperative gastrointestinal signs in 23% of dogs regardless of technique, a reminder that persistent GI issues may still need follow-up even after technically successful surgery. More broadly, the paper fits into a larger surgical evidence base in which technique choice often remains preference-sensitive when comparative data are limited: a recent Veterinary Evidence review found only weak evidence to favor either Gambee or simple interrupted closure after canine enterotomy, concluding that surgeon choice still drives practice there as well. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Prospective studies with longer follow-up could help determine whether the operative time advantage of barbed sutures holds across settings and whether outcomes remain comparable over time. Related work in other soft tissue procedures also points to the value of better prognostic markers after surgery—for example, in dogs with perineal hernia, higher postoperative rectal dilatation scores and rectal wall fibrosis have been linked with recurrence or persistent signs—highlighting the broader need for more durable outcome tracking beyond the immediate perioperative period.