Circumferential esophageal hiatal rim reconstruction for treatment of persistent regurgitation in brachycephalic dogs: 29 cases (2016-2019)

OBJECTIVE To describe a technique for circumferential esophageal hiatal rim reconstruction and to report outcomes in brachycephalic dogs with persistent regurgitation treated with the technique. ANIMALS 29 client-owned brachycephalic dogs. PROCEDURES Dogs that had undergone circumferential esophageal hiatal rim reconstruction between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019, for treatment of persistent regurgitation were identified through a search of the medical record database of The Animal Hospital at Murdoch University. Circumferential esophageal hiatal rim reconstruction involved apposition of the medial margins of the left and right pars lumbalis dorsal to the esophagus (reconstructing the dorsal margin) and ventral to the esophagus (reducing the ventral hiatal aperture and completing the circumferential reconstruction). Data collection from the medical records included preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative (short- and long-term outcomes [<= 14 days and >= 6 months, respectively]) data. RESULTS In all dogs, substantial laxity of the left and right pars lumbalis and failure of dorsal coaxial alignment were observed, and circumferential esophageal hiatal rim reconstruction and esophagopexy were performed. Results of short- term follow-up indicated reduced regurgitation frequency; however, 7 of 29 dogs continued to have mild regurgitation, which was attributed to esophagitis and resolved with medical management. Long-term follow-up information was available for 19 dogs: regurgitation had resolved in 16 dogs and occurred once weekly in 3 dogs. No ongoing medication was required for any dog. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Circumferential hiatal rim reconstruction combined with esophagopexy substantially reduced regurgitation frequency in dogs of the present study, and we recommend that this procedure be considered for brachycephalic dogs presented with a history of regurgitation unresponsive to medical management.

Automated summary

The study presented a technique for circumferential esophageal hiatal rim reconstruction in 29 brachycephalic dogs with persistent regurgitation. Short-term follow-up showed a significant reduction in regurgitation frequency post surgery. It is recommended to consider this procedure for brachycephalic dogs with a history of regurgitation unresponsive to medical management.