Comparative outcomes following laparotomy-assisted endoscopic removal or gastrotomy for treatment of linear foreign bodies in dogs and cats.

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of linear foreign bodies anchored at the pylorus treated via laparotomy-assisted endoscopic removal versus traditional gastrotomy in dogs and cats. The medical records of patients that underwent either procedure from 2020 to 2022 at 1 of 3 affiliated private practice hospitals were reviewed retrospectively. Intra-operative parameters, including surgical time, signalment, pre-operative blood abnormalities, after-hours versus daytime surgeries, and level of surgical training, showed no differences between the 2 groups. The laparotomy-assisted group had a significantly decreased anesthetic time and total hospitalization duration. There was no significant difference in post-operative complication rates between the 2 groups, although incisional infections occurred in 12/121 (10%) of the gastrotomy patients and only 2/24 (8%) of the laparotomy-assisted endoscopy patients. In addition, none of the laparotomy-assisted groups developed post-operative septic peritonitis, whereas septic peritonitis occurred in 2/121 (1.6%) of gastrotomy patients. Laparotomy-assisted endoscopic removal of linear foreign bodies anchored at the pylorus is a viable treatment option that may have the benefits of decreased anesthetic and hospitalization times.