Roux-en-Y procedure to reconstruct the upper gastrointestinal tract in six dogs and five cats: A descriptive case series.

Objective: To describe the Roux-en-Y principle for upper gastrointestinal reconstruction and to report its outcome in dogs and cats.

Study design: Retrospective study.

Animals: A total of 11 client-owned pets (six dogs and five cats).

Methods: Medical records of dogs and cats treated with Roux-en-Y principles were reviewed.

Results: Biliary obstruction was diagnosed in six cases, and upper gastrointestinal obstruction in five cases. Biliary carcinoma was the most common histological diagnosis. All the procedures were successfully completed. One dog and one cat died of cardiac arrest one and 5 days after surgery, respectively. Another cat was euthanized because of septic peritonitis 6 days after surgery. One dog died 11 days after surgery because of portal vein thrombosis and septic peritonitis. Another dog was euthanized because of septic peritonitis 6 days after surgery. Gastrostomy tubes were used in six animals. Gastric dilatation, ileus, and vomiting required medical attention after surgery. The median survival time was 82 days (range: 60-196 days) for the four dogs and 365 days (range: 84-410 days) for the three cats discharged from the hospital. The median survival time of animals diagnosed with neoplastic and non-neoplastic disease was 5 days (range: 1-196 days) and 192 days (range: 6-410 days), respectively.

Conclusion: The Roux-en-Y principle could be considered to treat biliary and upper gastrointestinal obstructions in dogs and cats. The underlying disease greatly influenced the outcome.

Clinical significance: The Roux-en-Y principle could be used as an alternative to cholecystoduodenostomy or Billroth II.