Advice needed - Complications of surgery

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by LDB7 on 06 May 2009 - 16:05

My 12 month GSD needed surgery for intestinal blockage. She was completely healthy, besides the blockage. While the dog was prepped for surgery and lying on the table supine, under anesthesia, it started to drain fluids from the nose. The vet was advised and table was tilted and pressure was applied to the abdomen area forcing more fluids through the nose and then began the surgery. Immediately after the surgery, my dog was extremely congested and draining more fluids. She sounded terrible. X-rays were taken and showed fluid in the chest. It has been over 4 months and after over $7000.00 in vet bills (other vet's) for critical care (hemorrhaging from the nose 4 days after surgery), emergency visits, more x-rays, lab work, all kinds of medication, MRI & a Rhinoscoptomy procedure from an Internist - I now know my dog has permanent damage to its nasal cavity and will most likely suffer from congestion and infection the rest of its life. According to the Internist, acidic fluids most likely caused this damage to the linings of the nose. Am I wrong for thinking the initial vet should have some responsibility for this condition? What would you do?

by jayne241 on 06 May 2009 - 17:05

Yikes, I'm so sorry!

I have no words of wisdom, but I'm sorry to hear of so many folks having problems. I know you did all you could do and spared no expense. I agree with your advice on the other thread, it isn't worth it to take chances and skimp on vet's bills!

by Okie Amazon on 06 May 2009 - 18:05

I am very sorry for what has happened with your dog. Maybe you "could" say the original vet has some responsibility for the damage by drainage, but OTOH, if they had not allowed the fluid to drain, your dog might not have survived the original surgery.
My thought, as someone who has assisted in many, many surgeries, is something was up with your dog, BEFORE the surgery. Fluid drainage from the nose is NOT a normal surgical complication or something that routinely happens when a dog is under. I'm very sorry you are dealing with this, but I can't help thinking, something must have been brewing even before the surgery. I wish you and your dog the best for a recovery.

by wrknk9 on 06 May 2009 - 19:05

Dogs with foreign body obstructions often have a history of vomiting. Perhaps the dog was suffering from an undiagnosed aspiration pneumonia prior to the laparotomy. This might also account for the nasal damage from gastric acid. The dog certainly should have had an endotracheal tube in place prior to the procedure, so the fluid drainage from the nose is puzzling (should have been draining from the trach tube). Also, the post surgical epistaxis (nose bleed) might be a result of the acidic damage or it could be indicative of a bleeding disorder, but that would probably have been evident during the procedure. What type of foreign body was retrieved from the dog's gut? Has the possibility of a chronic toxemia been addressed? Since the dog has had no resolution of her problems despite the extensive diagnostic procedures, her case might be a good candidate for your local veterinary college to tackle if that avenue is available to you. Perhaps there are veterinarians lurking on this board that can assist in pointing you in the next direction.

by LDB7 on 06 May 2009 - 22:05

wrknk9,

The dog never vomited in the 5 months I owned her, nor did she show any signs what so ever of breathing problems prior to the surgery. Since I personally observed an ET tube in place when I observed the nasal drainage, is it possible the ET tube was not properly placed? The donut on the ET tube was actually inflated after she started draining and after the fluid was forced from her abdomen. Could this have forced the fluid into the chest as well, causing aspiration?

by dogshome9 on 07 May 2009 - 00:05

Was your dog in a life or death condition before surgery? because if surgery could have been postponed then it should have been and the dog woken up to find the reason for the fluid. Did they find a foreign body if so what was it?

Why did they apply presure to the abdomen especially if she had a blockage? My thoughts would be to turn the dog onto it stomach and tilt the table and allow the fluids to drain through the mouth instead of the nose and then maybe wake her up and do further tests to find out just what was going on. Just my thoughts.

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