Hickey C, Guedes AG, Kennedy MJ, Tearney CC, Yamamoto K, Wendt-Hornickle E. Effect of the reverse Trendelenburg position on the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux in dogs anesthetized for elective stifle surgery.
Vet Anaesth Analg 2023:S1467-2987(23)00063-6. [PMID:
37164789 DOI:
10.1016/j.vaa.2023.04.002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine if a 15° reverse Trendelenburg position decreases the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) compared with a horizontal position in dogs anesthetized for stifle surgery.
STUDY DESIGN
Prospective, randomized parallel-arm study.
ANIMALS
A total of 44 healthy client-owned dogs were enrolled and data from 36 dogs were analyzed.
METHODS
Dogs requiring preoperative radiographs under anesthesia, or with a history of gastrointestinal signs or administered gastroprotectant therapy within 1 month of surgery were excluded. Anesthesia protocol was standardized to include hydromorphone, dexmedetomidine, ketamine, propofol and isoflurane. Dogs were randomly assigned at enrollment to be positioned in a 15° reverse Trendelenburg or a horizontal position for surgery. Continuous pH monitoring was documented throughout the procedure with a 6.4 Fr (2.13 mm) esophageal pH probe positioned in the distal esophagus via the oral cavity. GER was defined as pH < 4.0 (acidic) or > 7.5 (alkaline) for more than 30 seconds. The proportions of dogs developing GER were compared between groups using Fisher's exact test. Time to reflux was compared using survival curves and the Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon test. Statistical significance was set as p < 0.05.
RESULTS
An episode of GER occurred in 11/36 (30%) dogs. Reflux was alkaline in two dogs and acidic in nine dogs. The proportion of dogs with GER was 5/18 (28%) and 6/18 (33%) for dogs in the reverse Trendelenburg position and horizontal position, respectively, and was not statistically significant (p > 0.99). Median (range) time until reflux was 44 (23-135) and 44.5 (9-56) minutes when dogs were positioned in reverse Trendelenburg position and horizontal position, respectively (p = 0.66; two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test).
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Positioning the surgery table in a 15° rostral elevation for dogs anesthetized for elective stifle surgical procedures did not decrease the incidence of GER.
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