Partial Invagination of the Canine Stomach for Treatment of Infarction of the Gastric Wall

Abstract

A technique was evaluated for the management of infarction of a portion of the canine gastric fundus and body by invagination of the compromised gastric wall with a double layer of inverting sutures. Two methods of potentially producing vascular compromise of the gastic wall were developed and studied. In the first method (ten dogs plus three control dogs), the first three short gastric arteries and veins were ligated and divided; vascular compromise was not produced. In the second method (eight dogs), an area of the gastric fundus was isolated by a strangulating suture in addition to the division of the short gastric vessels; this method did produce vascular compromise. The invagination procedure caused melena for several days in four dogs. Complete healing of the gastric wall had not occurred at 2 weeks.