Management of Postoperative Intra-Abdominal Hypertension in a Dog Undergoing Cervical Disc Surgery

The dog with tetraplegia was presented for magnetic resonance imaging and cervical ventral slot decompression. Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) was measured every hour after surgery, along with respiratory rate, heart rate, and arterial pressure. Three hours after surgery, abdominal distension with agitation and respiratory distress were observed, and IAP rose to 12 mmHg, indicating mild intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH). Additional fentanyl and ketamine CRI did not alleviate IAH and acepromazine (0.01 mg/kg, IV) was administered to alleviate the agitation and respiratory distress. After acepromazine administration, the agitation subsided and IAP dropped to 4 mmHg. During the next 24 hours, the patient’s vital signs and IAP remained stable, with normal urine output. This case report suggests the possibility of postoperative IAH monitoring in dogs. However, considering the nature of a single surgical case of cervical ventral slot, further study is required for indication of IAH monitoring.