Laparoscopic Versus Conventional Y-U Pyloroplasty in Dogs: A Comparative Study of Pain, Stress, and Duration

Y-U pyloroplasty is a surgical approach that is used to relieve pyloric stenosis. The study of different aspects of laparoscopic Y-U pyloroplasty instead of conventional approaches seems to be an appropriate alternative for the development of such surgeries in animals, as pyloric stenosis is an uncommon but important disease.

The present study aimed to describe the laparoscopic Y-U pyloroplasty in small animals as a new surgical technique, and to compare the duration of surgery, level of surgical stress, and postoperative pain of this method with the conventional Y-U pyloroplasty. It is important to note that this is the first time that laparoscopic Y-U pyloroplasty was performed in dogs.

A total of eight intact male and female mixed breed dogs were randomly divided into two groups of conventional (n=4) and laparoscopic (n=4) pyloroplasty. Operation time, blood glucose concentration, plasma cor-tisol levels, gastric emptying time, pyloric lumen, and diameter and width of pyloric ring, as well as the University of Melbourne Pain Scale (UMPS) were measured in both groups during pre and postoperative intervals.

As a result, the mean operation time for conventional group was significantly lower than that for lapa-roscopic group (38.75±3.15 min vs. 116.25±14.34 min, p <0.05). Blood glucose concentrations in both groups elevated rapidly until 3 hours after surgery and then decreased until 24 hours. Plasma cortisol level in laparoscopic group, however, elevated rapidly until 5 hours after surgery. On the other hand, pyloric diameter and width of pyloric ring significantly increased in both groups. The UMPS in dogs undergoing conventional Y-U pyloroplasty was significantly higher than that in those undergoing laparoscopic Y-U pyloroplasty (p <0.001). Furthermore, pain and gastric emptying time decreased in all dogs.

This study suggests that laparoscopic Y-U pyloroplasty is an applicable minimal invasive sur-gery that is performed through small incisions for the treatment of pyloric stenosis in dogs.